Lonza targets compliance for EU regulations on preservatives

The EU’s SCCS recently proposed a use level restriction on a range of common preservatives and a complete ban on others in cosmetics formulations, which otherwise are largely not restricted in the US.

This situation is likely to lead to uncertainty for many cosmetics formulators working in the US, particularly as the EU regulations can be complex and difficult to navigate.

Limited time frame for compliance​

“The anticipated date for a decision on the restrictions and bans has not yet been determined but if a decision is made to enforce this, a limited time frame for product reformulation is expected in order to comply with the regulation,”​ said Laura Szymczak, global marketing manager, personal care preservation.

“Reformulating takes time and if your company uses the preservatives in question, proactively addressing your reformulation could be a driver in your continued success.”​ 

Currently the company offers its Preservation and Protection System Line, which is a combination of traditional and next-generation options, alongside its FormulaProtect online tool, which is designed to help guide formulators around the exact preservatives they may need, based on their specific formulation requirements.

 Formulation tool outlines preservative options​

“FormulaProtect allows formulators to simply select specific formulation criteria such as pH, required spectrum, formulation type, regulatory and organizational approvals, amongst other criteria, and they will be presented with a selection of recommended preservative options along with detailed information on each of them,"​ said Szymczak.

Although a decision on the new EU regulations for a long list of preservatives is still to be confirmed, one of the principle preservatives the SCCS is currently looking to place restrictions on is the use of the preservative Cimbazole

 Othher preservatives that the SCCS is currently reconsidering include parabens, Benzisothiazolinone, triclosans, parabens, citric acid and silver nitrate.

For further details on the preservatives that the organization currently had under the spotlight, please consult this link​.