The commission is extending the assessment that began in 2003 in order to ensure consumer confidence in substances used within hair dyes, based on an agreement between the European Commission, member states, industry and consumer associations.

Meglena Kuneva, Commissioner for Consumer Protection, said: "Product safety goes to the heart of consumer policy - it is the number one concern. The job of the scientific committee is to draw the Commission's attention to potential safety concerns.

" The Commission will follow the scientific advice and work quickly to provide the necessary next step of assessment of exposure" she continued.

Given the increased use of hair dyes over the past ten years the SCCP drew the Commission's attention to new data that suggested that 'many of the hair dye substances currently used in hair dye products have the potential to cause skin sensitisation.'

The EC decided to continue its assessment of the safety implications of products that contain potentially harmful substances if not used at the right levels - despite already being aware of the issue, and the fact that there is little systematic data on the occurrence of allergies amongst consumers.

The European Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (Colipa) released a statement following the EC announcement, offering its full support to the continued assessment. However, it reinforced its confidence in the safety of hair dyes and stated that, if used as directed, severe reactions are extremely rare.

"Hair colouring products are one of the most thoroughly studied consumer products on the market today. The European cosmetics industry fully supports the European Commission's strategy to evaluate further the safety of hair dyes", confirmed Bertil Heerink, Director General of Colipa.

As the median age of hair dye users has lowered dramatically to the age of 16 over the past years, according to a recent Danish epidemiological study, there has been further calls to look more thoroughly into the SCCP's opinion that there is a link between the long term use of permanent hair dyes and bladder cancer.

The three-step modulated approach by the EC has taken place over a four-year period, with the first deadline for hair dyes, for which no safety files have ever been submitted, being the 30^th September 2003.

Submission of extensive scientific dossiers in accordance to the SCCP requirements was set for the 31^st July 2005. The dossiers supported the safety of the 46 substances used in hair dyes today, and that were stipulated for review in the recent memorandum from the SCCP, an independent advisory body established by the committee, to the EC.

The new deadline for all combinations of substances in permanent hair dye formulations has now being extended to the 31^st of December this year.

"Further implementation of the assessment strategy and further epidemiological studies are necessary to examine the extent of skin allergies to hair dyes in the EU's population. At the same time threshold values for sensitizers of high concern need to be determined to take appropriate measures on a possible decrease of exposure."