Brussels fragrance allergen report stresses need for comprehensive labelling

Published: 19-Jul-2013
Regulatory Fragrance

Over 100 substances identified as potential allergens

The European Commission (EC) has published updated data on fragrance allergens subject to European Union (EU) controls, stressing the need for widespread labelling to combat potentially dangerous reactions.

The comprehensive report - http://ec.europa.eu/health/opinions/perfume-allergies/en/index.htm#il1 - includes a list of 54 fragrances based on 28 natural extracts and 82 chemical substances liable to labelling rules because they can provoke allergic reactions in humans. The report notes that the EU scientific committee on consumer safety has identified more than 100 additional individual substances and natural extracts as potential allergens.

While the EU cosmetics directive generally allows fragrance allergens in proportions of up to 0.01% of a cosmetic product, this “does not, however, preclude that the most sensitive segment of the population may develop a skin allergy upon exposure.” So, there is a “necessity for providing information to the consumer concerning the presence of the fragrance substance in cosmetics,” stressed the Commission report.

For a full list of fragrance chemicals considered by the EU as causing allergic reactions visit http://ec.europa.eu/health/opinions/perfume-allergies/en/figtableboxes/table-13-1.htm

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