The preservative has been evaluated by the SCCP and will be included in the Annex VI of the European Cosmetics Directive, which is set to be published early 2009.
Broad activity spectrum
Aminat-PQ (INCI name ethyl lauroyl arginate HCI) kills a wide variety of organisms including bacteria, moulds and yeast, explained Vedeqsa’s sales and marketing manager Eva Cruells.
Its multifunctional benefits, which are not provided by other preservative systems, make it a particularly important innovation, she said.
“Aminat-PQ kills microorganisms, prevents the attachment and proliferation of bacteria to the biological surfaces in the human body (the bioshield effect) and deactivates the toxins made from bacteria” Cruells told CosmeticsDesign.com.
The preservative was originally designed for food products but the company claim it is perfect for use in oral care products, hygienic handwashes and skin antiseptics, and deodorants.
Annex VI acceptance
Now, with its acceptance onto the positive list for preservatives, the use of the ingredient in cosmetics products is likely to take-off.
The EU’s annex VI is a list of preservative ingredients authorised for use in cosmetics products. Companies cannot use an ingredient, as a preservative, unless it is included on this list.
It is possible for companies to use other ingredients that have antimicrobial properties; however, these must be included for other properties and cannot be referred to as a preservative.
Getting an ingredient accepted onto Annex VI is not easy, according to the company, although the benefits, once there, can be manifold.