Following an opinion from the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) recommending that silver be classified as “Toxic for Reproduction Category 2”, which could lead to a ban on its use in cosmetics, the industry submitted a dossier in defence of the substance. The European Commission asked the SCCS to assess it, and the Scientific Committee accepted this mandate on 21 November 2023.
Background
Silver (CAS No.7440-22-4; EC No.231-131-3; INCI: Silver) is an ingredient primarily used as a colorant (CI 77820) in cosmetics, providing a silver hue to various cosmetic formulations. It is an authorised colorant and, therefore, listed in entry 142 of Annex IV to the Cosmetics Regulation. Silver is frequently found in makeup products such as eyeshadows, highlighters, nail polishes, and body powders, where it provides a metallic/shimmery effect. In addition, in the current dossier submission, silver is reported as conditioning agent in rinse-off and leave on cosmetic products.
The European Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) of ECHA issued in February 2023 an opinion recommending among others a “Toxic for Reproduction Category 2” classification for Silver. Following the RAC opinion, the European Commission may propose a classification for silver as a “Toxic for Reproduction Category 2” (CLP Regulation Annex VI entry).
According to Article 15(1) of the Cosmetics Regulation “the use in cosmetic products of substances classified as CMR substances, of category 2, under Part 3 of Annex VI to Regulation (EC) No.1272/2008 shall be prohibited. However, a substance classified in category 2 may be used in cosmetic products where the substance has been evaluated by the SCCS and found safe for …
