EC banning 20+ more hazardous chemicals in cosmetics

04-Nov-2021 - Last updated on 04-Nov-2021 at 12:09 GMT

The European Commission has issued its fourth update to the regulation prohibiting and/or restricting carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR) chemicals in cosmetics [Getty Images]

The European Commission (EC) has extended its list of prohibited carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR) chemicals in cosmetics following extensive consultations with its Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and other interested parties.

The Commission has added a total of 23 CMR chemicals to its prohibited substances list under Article 15 of the Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009 due to their “long-term and serious effects on human health”. Banned CMRs include Pyrithione zinc, Silicon carbide fibres and Flurochloridone.

Announced last Friday, the ban was set to come into force on March 1, 2022 for all cosmetic products on the EU market – imported and EU-made – and marked the fourth annual update to the regulation restricting and/or prohibiting the use of CMR substances in cosmetic products; part of the CMR Omnibus IV regulation that was drafted on June 18, 2021.

“Over the years, the EU has significantly reduced citizen’s exposure to harmful chemicals. The Commission constantly evaluates how to further enhance the protection of consumers based on technical and scientific progress,” the European Commission said in a statement.

Full details on the EU regulation on CMRs can be found here.

Full list of 23 prohibited CMRs

Below is the full list of 23 CMR substances set to be banned from March 1, 2022. The table, provided by the European Commission, includes the chemical name, Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS number) and European Community (EC) number.

Substance identification
Chemical name/INN	CAS number	EC number
Silicon carbide fibres (with diameter < 3 μm, length > 5 μm and aspect ratio ≥ 3:1)	409-21-2 308076-74-6	206-991-8
Tris(2-methoxyethoxy) vinylsilane; 6-(2-methoxyethoxy)- 6-vinyl-2,5,7,10-tetraoxa-6-silaundecane	1067-53-4	213-934-0
Dioctyltin dilaurate; [1] stannane, dioctyl-, bis (coco acyloxy) derivs. [2]	3648-18-8 [1] 91648- 39-4 [2]	222-883-3 [1] 293-901-5 [2]
Dibenzo[def,p]chrysene; dibenzo[a,l]pyrene	191-30-0	205-886-4
Ipconazole (ISO); (1RS,2SR,5RS;1RS,2SR,5SR)-2-(4-chlorobenzyl)-5-isopropyl-1- (1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl)cyclopentanol	125225-28-7 115850-69-6 115937-89-8	-
Bis(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl)ether; tetraglyme	143-24-8	205-594-7
Paclobutrazol (ISO); (2RS,3RS)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl- 2-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1- yl)pentan-3-ol	76738-62-0	-
2,2-bis(bromomethyl) propane-1,3-diol	3296-90-0	221-967-7
2-(4-tert-butylbenzyl) propionaldehyde	80-54-6	201-289-8
Diisooctyl phthalate	27554-26-3	248-523-5
2-methoxyethyl acrylate	3121-61-7	221-499-3
Sodium N-(hydroxymethyl)glycinate; [formaldehyde released from sodium N-(hydroxymethyl)glycinate] if the maximum theoretical concentration of releasable formaldehyde, irrespective of the source, in the mixture as placed on the market is ≥ 0,1 % w/w	70161-44-3	274-357-8
Pyrithione zinc; (T-4)- bis[1-(hydroxy-.kappa.O)pyridine-2(1H)- thionato-.kappa.S]zinc	13463-41-7	236-671-3
Flurochloridone (ISO); 3-chloro-4-(chloromethyl)-1-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]pyrrolidin-2-one	61213-25-0	262-661-3
3-(difluoromethyl)-1- methyl-N-(3',4',5'-trifluorobiphenyl-2-yl) pyrazole-4-carboxamide; fluxapyroxad	907204-31-3	-
N-(hydroxymethyl)acrylamide; methylolacrylamide; [NMA]	924-42-5	213-103-2
5-fluoro-1,3-dimethyl-N-[2-(4- methylpentan-2-yl) phenyl]-1H-pyrazole- 4-carboxamide; 2'- [(RS)-1,3-dimethylbutyl]-5-fluoro-1,3-dimethylpyrazole-4-carboxanilide; penflufen	494793-67-8	-
Iprovalicarb (ISO); isopropyl [(2S)-3- methyl-1-{[1-(4- methylphenyl)ethyl] amino}-1-oxobutan-2- yl]carbamate	140923-17-7	-
Dichlorodioctylstannane	3542-36-7	222-583-2
Mesotrione (ISO); 2-[4-(methylsulfonyl)- 2-nitrobenzoyl]-1,3- cyclohexanedione	104206-82-8	-
Hymexazol (ISO); 3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole	10004-44-1	233-000-6
Imiprothrin (ISO); reaction mass of: [2,4- dioxo-(2-propyn-1-yl) imidazolidin-3-yl] methyl(1R)-cis-chrysanthemate; [2,4-dioxo-(2-propyn-1-yl) imidazolidin-3-yl] methyl(1R)-trans-chrysanthemate	72963-72-5	428-790-6
Bis(α,α-dimethylbenzyl) peroxide	80-43-3;	201-279-3’

Trade association Cosmetics Europe told CosmeticsDesign-Europe it supported the annual CMR Omnibus process that this latest update formed a part of, noting it was a "predictable" process and "method of ensuring alignment between different pieces of legislation".