ECHA’s Enforcement Forum agreed to run a pilot project to check for the presence of restricted perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) and related substances in consumer products such as cosmetics. In 2023, EHCA announced that the pilot project will be launched for inspection and will continue in 12 participating countries in 2024. The aim is to protect consumers from exposure to PFCA and related SVHC substances, including PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid).

The European Commission is to prohibit the use of 31 carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR) substances in cosmetic products. The Commission notified WTO of the amendments on November 17, 2022. These substances were added into Annex II of the Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and the ban on their use in cosmetics will apply from 1 December 2023.

In December 2022, Hochul, governor of New York State, signed an amendment to the Environmental Protection Act (A8630A) to prohibit the use of 1,4-dioxane or mercury in cosmetics and personal care products. The bill will come into effect on June 1, 2023. From the effective date, cosmetics or personal care products containing 1,4-dioxane or mercury must not be sold in New York State.

February 17, 2023, ECHA has released two substances that are proposed to be identified as substances of very high concern (SVHC) for public consultation. Related enterprises may make comments on the two substances before April 3, 2023.

On February 1, 2023, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) of the European Union issued final opinion on α-arbutin and β-arbutin. The preliminary opinion on the safety of arbutin in cosmetics (SCCS/1642/22) was released on March 15-16, 2022.