Since October 2012, the opinion was hoped for March 2013. In fact, the SCCS needed some time more before releasing its complementary opinion on Butyl- and Propylparaben, with a specific attention brought to sunscreens for young children. Conclusion: the experts confirm their previous conclusions, and reaffirm their recommendation to lower the allowed concentration of these preservatives in cosmetics.
In March 2011, the European Scientific Committee (SCCS) has considered that, while Methylparaben and Ethylparaben were safe for use when use at the upper allowed concentrations, Butylparaben and Propylparaben could not be considered as such only if the total of their respective concentrations was not above 0.19%. This was equivalent to a recommendation to lower the upper limit of the allowed concentration of these two preservatives in cosmetics.
In March 2012, a Member State has provided the European working group on cosmetics with the results of a study on the Propylparaben’s reprotoxicity (toxicity to reproduction). This study has shown no effect on the reproduction parameters, thus, did not confirm the results of the previous studies that recorded negative impacts on reproduction.
This is why the experts were requested to reassess their conclusions, especially for products used on young children (Denmark has already banned Butyl- and Propylparaben in products designed for children under 3), considering the specific case of sunscreens.
This new opinion has been released on 3 May 2013.
After the experts, recent data confirms that the toxicokinetics of parabens in rats and humans differ considerably. The concerns of the SCCP/SCCS expressed previously and reiterated in recent Opinions remain unchanged …
