On September 26, the EU Commission in Brussels adopted two measures restricting the use of three preservatives in cosmetic products, according to an EU press release.
Based on risk assessment studies carried out by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS), the Commission limited “the maximum concentration of two preservatives, Propylparaben and Butylparaben, from the currently allowed limit of 0.4% when used individually and 0.8% when mixed with other esters, to 0.14%, when used individually or together” in baby skin care products according to the report.
The second ban is on the “mixture of Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI) from leave-on products such as body creams.” This restriction is aimed at reducing allergic skin reactions and does not apply to use of the chemicals in products that are rinsed off, such as “shampoos and shower gels at a maximum concentration of 0.0015% of a mixture in the ratio 3:1 of MCI/MI.”
The measures will apply to products placed on the EU market after 16 April and July 2015, respectively. Preservatives such as parabens are widely used in cosmetics to prevent the development of microbial growth in product. The com- mission banned the use of Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Phenylparaben, Benzylparaben and Pentylparaben in cosmetics earlier this year.
Erika Hatva, London
