EU Drafts Regulation on New Ingredient Bans and Mercury
The European Commission has drafted a regulation to prohibit several ingredients, including certain benzophenones and prostaglandins, and to fully ban mercury compounds in cosmetics.
EU Drafts Regulation on New Ingredient Bans and Mercury
EU Drafts Regulation on New Ingredient Bans and Mercury
The European Commission has drafted amendments to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 concerning several cosmetic ingredients. The proposal would add new substances to Annex II (prohibited substances) and remove all remaining derogations for mercury compounds used as preservatives.
Based on recent Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) opinions, the draft regulation would ban Benzophenone‑1, Benzophenone‑2, Basic Brown 16, Basic Blue 99, and prostaglandins and their analogues. This requires the reformulation of products containing these substances, such as certain UV filters, hair dyes, and lash growth products.
Furthermore, the amendment proposes to remove all exemptions for the preservatives Thiomersal and phenylmercuric salts, effectively establishing a complete ban on mercury and all mercury compounds in cosmetic products sold in the EU.
The draft regulation is open for comment until early September 2026, with adoption planned for the fourth quarter of 2026.
You may access the notice here.
Originally published at worldover.io
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