ECHA announces D4 and D5 UK restriction proposal delay

The UK dossier which proposes that wash-off personal care products in the EU shall not contain more than 0.1% of D4, nor more than 0.1% of D5, will now be submitted on 17 April 2015.

Both ingredients, D4 and D5, are two siloxanes and reasons for the restrictions are that the former has persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT), while D5 is very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB), says the ECHA document.

“Each has a range of generally similar uses. A particular concern is the release of these substances into freshwater and their subsequent persistence and build-up in sediments, followed by bioaccumulation through the food chain,”​ says the Agency’s announcement.

“One significant use that results in emission of these substances into water is via their presence in wash-off personal care products.”​

The proposal says that a restriction of this use would make a significant contribution to reducing their presence in water sediment and that this targeted approach would be more appropriate than alternative regulatory approaches that would be less targeted and would ‘encompass numerous other use situations of lesser concern.’

Cosmetics function​

D4 function in cosmetics is reported as antistatic, emollient, humectant, solvent, viscosity controlling, and hair conditioning.

D5 is commonly used in cosmetics such as 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.

Back in 2006, the science panel of the European Commission reviewed data on octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane and concluded that it was unable to assess the risk to consumers used in cosmetic products.

“Despite the size of the paperwork submitted by industry for evaluation, it is unfortunate that the dossier lacked meaningful information/data on actual consumer exposure to D4,”​ the panel said.