EU scientific committee adopts three cosmetics opinions

Opinions on two cosmetic ingredients, zink pyrithione and 3-benzylidene-camphor (3-BC), and one hair dye ingredient, hydroxyanthraquinone-aminopropyl methyl morpholinium methosulfate, have been adopted by the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS).

The SCCS has concluded that 3-BC, used as a UV-filter in cosmetic products, is not safe for use. Its margin of safety (MoS) was calculated as 36. The World Health Organization (WHO) proposes a minimum value of 100 to conclude that a substance is safe. 3-BC is currently regulated in the cosmetics Directive in Annex VII, part 1 n19 (“List of permitted UV filters which cosmetic products may contain”) in a concentration of up to 2%.

The study reported oestrogenic and anti-oestrogenic effects and anti-androgenic activities of 3-BC. In vivo, the substance altered the expression of target genes in male and female rats used in the studies. However, the SCCS said that these results need to be confirmed because of shortcomings in the studies. No conclusion can be drawn regarding the genotoxity of the substance due to a lack of data, adds the committee.

Zinc pyrithione, which is used for preservative purposes in rinse-off hair products, is safe to use at a maximum concentration of 1%, the SCCS says. When investigating its use as an anti-dandruff agent in rinse-off hair care products, however, the SCCS concludes that zinc pyrithione is not safe. This was due to an unsatisfactory MoS for a concentration of up to 2%.

Finally, the SCCS concludes that hydroxyanthraquinone aminopropyl methyl morpholinium methosulfate is of no concern if used in a maximum concentration of 0.5%.

All three opinions are open for public comment.

Meanwhile, the European Commission has requested an opinion from the SCCS on Carbon Black, CI 77266. The chemical is used in its nano-form as a colourant in cosmetic products.

The EU executive has also requested a clarification on the opinion on zinc oxide (ZnO) that was adopted on 18 September 2012 . Cosmetics Europe submitted a different interpretation of the characteristics of ZnO in its nano-form in January 2013.

Further information 

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