Cosmetics Europe has issued an industry wide recommendation to discontinue the use of the preservative methylisothiazolinone (MIT) in leave-on skin cosmetics and personal care products. The association said it made the recommendation in the interests of consumer health and in response to recent clinical data which shows an increase in adverse skin reactions to this ingredient.
Following close analysis of clinical data, market feedback and Quantitative Risk Assessment analysis, Cosmetics Europe concluded that the discontinuation of MIT use in leave-on skin products including cosmetic wet wipes would result in a significant decrease in the incidence of sensitisation to this ingredient.
It recommends that the industry takes voluntary action in implementing this change as soon as feasible, rather than awaiting regulatory intervention under the Cosmetics Regulation.