On September 15, 2022, EU released the Commission Regulation 2022/2031 as regards the prohibitions and restrictions on substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR) and also updated Annex II, III and V to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. The amended Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day after its publication, and the restrictions on CMR shall be applied from December 17, 2022.

A summary of SCCS opinions from January to June 2022

On May 30, 2022, the Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety of the European Union (SCCS) issued a draft opinion SCCS/1644/22 on the safety of Aluminium in cosmetic products, which concludes that the safety of aluminium compounds in sprayable applications other than antiperspirant cannot be evaluated. The deadline of public comment is July 25, 2022.

On 25 March 2022, the European Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety (SCCS) issued draft opinion on the safety of Alpha-Arbutin and Beta-Arbutin, in which it concludes that without data on Hydroquinone release and its ultimate destination, it is not possible to determine the safe concentration of any Arbutin in cosmetics. The draft opinion is open for public comment until May 27, 2022.

The European Commission (EC) notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) on February 11, 2022, of a draft amendment to the Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding the use of certain nanomaterials in cosmetics products. The EC states that the amendment is required to enact the prohibition to use in cosmetic products certain nanomaterials for which the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) identified a basis of concern. The draft amendment would revise Annex II to the Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (list of substances prohibited in cosmetic products) to implement uniformly within the internal market the prohibition to use the nanomaterials for which a basis of concern has been identified.

On 1 February 2022, EU has published official Journal (EU) 2022/135 amending Appendix III of (EC) No 1223/2009 by adding article 323 to clarify the restrictions on the use of Methyl-N-Methylanthranilate. The article will come into force on 21 February 2022, and cosmetics that do not meet the requirements of the new article will not be placed on the EU market from 21 August 2022 and will not be made in EU from 21 November 2022.

On October 26, 2021, the European Commission issued new standards for the eco-labeling of hazardous chemicals in cosmetics and animal care products, banning the use of phthalates, endocrine disruptors (EDCs) and some other categories of chemicals.

In November 2021, the Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety of the European Union (SCCS) issued a preliminary assessment draft SCCS/1637/21 on the cosmetic whitening ingredient Kojic acid, concluding that Kojic acid has potential endocrine-disrupting properties and a maximum concentration of 1% allowed for use in cosmetics in the European Union is no longer considered safe.

On November 3, 2021, the European Commission officially issued the Regulation (EU) 2021/1902 Regulation Bulletin, which revised the list of prohibited ingredients in Annex II of the European Cosmetics Regulations. The anti-dandruff agent Zinc Pyrithione (ZPT) was added due to its reproductive toxicity 1B of GHS classification. This means that the cosmetic anti-dandruff agent ZPT will be officially banned in EU cosmetics, and the ban will come into effect on March 1, 2022. Zinc pyrithione (ZPT) is a common anti-dandruff ingredient that has been used for more than 60 years. Many well-known brands of anti-dandruff shampoo products contain this ingredients.

Chemical Inspection and Regulations Service Limited (CIRS) will attend Perfumes & Cosmetics Congress - Regulatory Issues on Wednesday 6th & Thursday 7th November 2019 in Chartres, France. April Guo, General Manager of Personal Care Division of CIRS, is invited as the guest speaker to share latest changes of China cosmetics regulations. The Perfumes & Cosmetics Congress – Regulatory issues, has become the major professional meeting, over the different editions.