ECHA recommends restrictions on D4 and D5 in some personal care products
Both Echa’s Risk Assessment (RAC) and Socio-economic Analysis (SEAC) Committees came to the conclusion following a proposal from the UK,
D4 function in cosmetics is reported as antistatic, emollient, humectant, solvent, viscosity controlling, and hair conditioning, while D5 is commonly used in deodorants, sunblocks, hair sprays and skin care products. It is becoming more common in hair conditioners, as it makes the hair easier to brush without breakage.
The substances are not currently regulated and over the past decade, D5 has largely replaced D4 in cosmetics. Echa’s latest announcement, is concerning only those products intended for use or disposal in water, such as shower gels, shaving foams, and shampoos.
Decisions
In its plenary meeting, the RAC agreed to support the proposal of the UK to restrict the placing on the market of the two siloxanes.
“Both substances are high tonnage substances in Europe and have direct uses in personal care products, cosmetics, cleaning products and a wide range of other uses,” it says. “They have a potential to accumulate in the environment and cause effects that are unpredictable in the long-term and are difficult to reverse.”
The SEAC also held its plenary meeting and concluded in support of the UK proposal to restrict the placing on the market of D4 and D5.
“SEAC concluded that the proposed restriction is the most appropriate EU-wide measure to address the identified risks in terms of the proportionality of its socio-economic benefits to its socio-economic costs,” it states.
“The restriction is targeted at the use of D4 and D5 in personal care products that are intended to be used or disposed with water, e.g. shower gels, shaving foams and shampoos. These uses are a major source of these substances to the aquatic environment in the EU.”
Both substances are high tonnage substances in Europe and have direct uses in personal care products, cosmetic products, cleaning products and a wide range of other uses.
D4 is a persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) substance and D5 is a very persistent, very bioaccumulative (vPvB) substance as agreed by the Member State Committee.
