UK government plans shake-up of cosmetic regulations

28 Apr 2022 --- The UK government is updating its cosmetics regulations following new rulings around the European Commission’s Cosmetic Products Regulation. Changes will include banning a chemical commonly used for skin-lightening, as well as fragrances used in cosmetics and some toys, including methyl heptine carbonate, atranol and chloratranol.

The amendments will additionally change the accepted uses of salicylic acid in products.

The government intends to prohibit products containing ingredients assessed and flagged by the Scientific Advisory Group on the Chemical Safety of non-food and non-medicinal consumer products (SAG-CS) from entering the market by December 15, this year.

A “transitional provision” will allow products to be made available until March 15, 2023, and after that the point sale and supply will become illegal.

Similarly, the government plans to ban substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic (CMR) from entering the market by October 15, 2022. However, a provision will allow them to be made available until December 15, 2022.

The move follows a wave of changes to the EC Cosmetic Regulations act.Banned chemicals
According to the government, chemicals can be classified into three groups: those assessed by the SAG-CS, CMRs (based on GB Classification, Labeling and Packaging Regulations) and fragrance allergens.

The SAG-CS has advised the government to revise Regulation Annex Two to ban the skin-lightening agent deoxyarbutin from cosmetics. Annex Three is to be loosened to permit salicylic acid “for uses other than as a preservative” at 0.5% in body lotion, mascara, eye shadow, eyeliner, lipstick and roll-on deodorant.

Under the Cosmetic Regulations, substances classified as CMR must not be present in cosmetic products unless the substance is included in Annexes Three to Six.

As of March 1 and October 1, 2022, a range of chemicals has been designated as CMRs, and chemicals classified as such may no longer be included in future formulations.

Fragrance regulations
Changes to Appendix C to Schedule Two of the Toys (Safety) Regulations will see formaldehyde and aniline also on their way out. The SAG-CS recommends lowering their acceptable usage levels of toys for children under 36 months, or toys meant to be placed in the mouth.

Point 13 of Annex 2 will also be amended to reduce the permitted migration limits for aluminum. Methyl heptine carbonate, atranol and chloratranol – recently designated by the EU as allergens – are to be prohibited for use in toys.

Currently, the UK bans use of atranol and chloratranol, and limited methyl heptane carbonate to 0.01% for cosmetic products.

These fragrances are often used in modeling clay or fingerpaints, where the exposure routes to said chemicals are similar to those of cosmetics.

The UK government’s plans follow a wave of changes to EU cosmetics laws. Late last year, the UK mulled over banning the majority of tattoo inks in the Union, following a European Chemical Agency ruling.

And recently, the EC Notified the World Trade Organization of its plans to ban nanoparticles such as colloidal gold from cosmetics.

Edited by Olivia Nelson

To contact our editorial team please email us at editorial@cnsmedia.com