News Details
UK Extends Restrictions on Chemicals in Cosmetics: 13 New CMRs Added
The UK has made an amendment to its Cosmetic Products (Restriction of Chemical Substances) (No. 2) Regulations 2024, which it notified to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in an addendum on 3 October 2024. This latest amendment introduces restrictions on 13 additional chemicals classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic (CMR) substances under the GB Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008). These changes extend the initial list of 52 prohibited substances to further protect the health and safety of consumers of cosmetic products sold in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland).
Original WTO Notification
This addendum builds on the UK's original notification of April 2024, which included:
- Kojic Acid: Allowed at a maximum concentration of 1% in face and hand products, following recommendations from the UK’s Scientific Advisory Group on Chemical Safety (SAG-CS).
- Initial CMR Restrictions: This notification already suggested to prohibit a number of chemicals classified as CMRs under the CLP Regulation, with plans to amend the relevant technical Annexes of the GB Cosmetics Regulation.
Newly Added CMRs
The following table lists the 13 CMRs added in the addendum.
|
Ref. |
Chemical Name |
CAS no |
|
1732 |
Benzyl(diethylamino)diphenylphosphonium 4-[1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propan-2-yl] phenolate |
577705-90-9 |
|
1733 |
Benzyltriphenylphosphonium, salt with 4,4'-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]bis[phenol] (1:1) |
75768-65-9 |
|
1734
|
Reaction mass of 4,4'-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenol and benzyl(diethylamino)diphenylphosphonium 4-[1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propan-2-yl]phenolate (1:1 |
- |
|
1735
|
Reaction mass of 4,4'-[2,2,2-trifluoro1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene] diphenol and benzyltriphenylphosphonium, salt with 4,4'-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1- (trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]bis[phenol] (1:1) |
- |
|
1736
|
Reaction mass of 1-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)-2,2-bis ((2,3-epoxypropoxy)methyl) butane and 1-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)-2-((2,3-epoxypropoxy)methyl) -2-hydroxymethyl butane |
- |
|
1737 |
4,4'-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1- trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenol; bisphenol A |
1478-61-1 |
|
1738 |
Transfluthrin (ISO); 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzyl trans-2-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-3,3-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate |
118712-89-3 |
|
1739 |
Salts of 2-ethylhexanoic aci |
- |
|
1740 |
Benfluralin (ISO); N-butyl-N-ethyl-α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-p-toluidine |
1861-40-1 |
|
1741 |
N,N-dimethyl-p-toluidin |
99-97-8 |
|
1742 |
4-nitrosomorpholine |
59-89-2 |
|
1743 |
3,3'-dimethylbiphenyl 4,4'-diyl diisocyanate |
91-97-4 |
|
1744 |
Foramsulfuron (ISO); 2-{[(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)carbamoyl]sulfamoyl}-4-formamido-N,N dimethylbenzamide; 1-(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)-3-(2-dimethylcarbamoyl-5-formamidophenylsulfonyl)urea |
173159-57-4 |
Transitional Provisions
The updated Regulation is expected to be adopted by 25 January 2025. Cosmetic products placed on the market on or before 20 April 2025 may continue to be made available on the market until 20 October 2025. For products containing kojic acid, the corresponding deadlines are 20 June 2025 for placing on the market and 1 November 2025 as the last available date.
Public Consultation
The WTO notification is open for comments for 60 days from the date of notification. More details on the amendments and the full list of chemicals affected can be found here.
We acknowledge that the above information has been compiled from WTO.
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