The European Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has just published its Opinion on Phenoxyethanol. It has been adopted at the plenary meeting on 16 March 2016, and is open for comments until May 31, 2016. Conclusion: this preservative is safe in cosmetics, at the current maximum concentration, for all consumers, whatever their age.
Background
Phenoxyethanol (CAS: 122-99-6) as preservative is regulated in Annex V/29 of the Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009.
According to the Cosmetics Regulation, Phenoxyethanol is authorized as a preservative in cosmetic formulations at a maximum concentration of 1.0%.
In September 2012, the Commission received a risk assessment submitted by the French Agency ANSM (Agence nationale de sécurité des médicaments et des produits de santé) which rose concerns about the use of Phenoxyethanol as preservative in cosmetic products.
The ANSM report
(Evaluation du risque lié à l'utilisation du phénoxyéthanol dans les produits cosmétiques) concludes that the maximum authorized concentration (currently of 1%) of Phenoxyethanol for use as a preservative should be lowered to 0.4% in cosmetic products for children less than three years.
In addition, Phenoxyethanol should not be used in cosmetic products intended for their nappy area.
The Commission received information from other member States raising similar concerns on the use of Phenoxyethanol, in particular on children.
In December 2013, in response to a call for data on Phenoxyethanol by the Commission , Cosmetics Europe submitted a safety dossier in order to defend the current use of Phenoxyethanol as preservative in cosmetic formulations at a maximum concentration of 1.0%.
In December 2014, …
