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Member states have voted in favour of a European Commission proposal to ban 16 carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic (CMR) substances under the Cosmetic Products Regulation (CPR), moving the measure one step closer to becoming law.
The EU Standing Committee on Cosmetic Products backed the draft amending regulation on 16 September, with 25 votes in favour, one against and one abstention, comfortably exceeding the qualified-majority threshold.
The committee vote clears the way for the proposal to enter the scrutiny phase, during which the European Parliament and Council of Ministers examine the file before it is formally adopted by the Commission.
If adopted, it will add the following substances to Annex II, the list of prohibited substances in cosmetic products:
- benzophenone-1;
- benzophenone-2;
- Basic Brown 16;
- Basic Blue 99;
- prostaglandins and their analogues;
- 2-ethylhexanoic acid, monoester with propane-1,2-diol;
- α,α'-propylenedinitrilodi-o-cresol;
- ozone;
- dinitrogen oxide;
- 9-octadecenoic acid (z)-, sulfonated, potassium salts and related substances;
- 2,3-epoxypropyl isopropyl ether;
- tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate;
- trimethyl phosphate;
- fluoroethylene;
- 2-bromo-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-ene; and
- 2-phenylpropene (α-methylstyrene).
Tightened restrictions
The amendment would also tighten existing controls on mercury by deleting derogations that still permit the use of thiomersal and phenylmercuric salts as preservatives in limited circumstances.
It would introduce a new Annex III entry for cannabidiol, allowing concentrations of up to 0.19% in leave-on, rinse-off and oral-care cosmetic products.
The fragrance ingredient and antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) would be restricted to a maximum concentration of 0.07% in leave-on and rinse-off products. Use in oral-care products or products that may expose users’ lungs through inhalation would not be permitted.
The proposal would revise conditions for nanoform hydroxyapatite, permitting its use at concentrations of up to 29.5% in toothpaste and 10% in mouthwash.
It would also create a separate Annex V entry for the preservative butylparaben, introducing limits for products intended for children under ten years old: 0.14% in rinse-off products; 0.002% in leave-on products; and 0.092% in oral-care products.
According to the draft amending regulation, most provisions would apply from 1 February 2027, the same date as corresponding CLP Regulation classifications under the 23rd adaptation to technical progress (ATP).
