Following the mandate given by the European Commission to the SCCS in March 2021 in the context of the availability of new data on global exposure to vitamin A, the SCCS has just published its final Opinion on the safety of vitamin A compounds used in cosmetic products (Retinol, Retinyl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate). It was adopted during the plenary meeting of 24-25 October 2022.
Background
Vitamin A is currently not regulated in the annexes to the Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No.1223/2009. In 2016, the SCCS issued the Opinion SCCS/1576/16 on Vitamin A concluding that its use as a cosmetic ingredient is safe at given concentrations for body lotions and face creams, leave-on (other than body lotions) and rinse-off products.
However, intake of Vitamin A via additional sources of exposure to Vitamin A (in addition to exposure via food) may exceed safe levels.
In 2020, the Commission services received additional information on a recent study that evaluated the aggregated exposure to Vitamin A from cosmetics, diet and food supplements and the contribution of cosmetic products among the overall/total exposure to Vitamin A.
The Scientific Committee issued its Preliminary Opinion in December 2021, stating that vitamin A in cosmetics at the specified concentrations is safe but that the intake of vitamin A from additional sources (beyond dietary exposure) may exceed safe levels.
For an exhaustive background information, see the articles
• Phenoxyethanol, EcoG+, Vitamin A: Final Opinions of the SCCS, CosmeticOBS, 13 January 2017
• SCCS: Request for a revision of the Opinion on Vitamin A, CosmeticOBS, 15 March 2021 • SCCS: Preliminary Opinion on …
