UK Reiterates Animal Testing Ban for Cosmetic Ingredients
On 17 May 2023 Home Secretary Suella Bravermen said in a written statement to Parliament that no new animal testing licences will be granted. In announcing the ban, Braverman said only ‘a small number of time-limited licences’ were issued between 2019 and 2022.
Earlier this month it emerged that since 2019, the government has been issuing licences to conduct animal testing of cosmetic ingredients to comply with EU chemical regulations (REACH). In response, animal welfare organisation, Cruelty Free International (CFI) brought legal action against the Home Office, claiming the licences weakened the 1998 policy ban that ended the use of animal testing for finished cosmetic products and ingredients.
Following Bravermans statement, a Home Office spokesperson said:
"Animal testing of cosmetic products for consumer safety has been banned since 1998. That remains in force…Building on this, we are going even further by banning licences to test ingredients exclusively used in the production of cosmetics for worker safety, which is permitted under EU regulations. This ban is in force with immediate effect."
HSE Call for Evidence on Formaldehyde
The Health and Safety Executive has opened a call for evidence on formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers.
Formaldehyde is a colourless flammable substance which occurs naturally in the environment. Formaldehyde is commonly used as a preservative to prolong shelf life and prevent bacterial contamination. However studies have shown long term exposure to formaldehyde., and the gases that are released as the ingredients decompose are associated with a number of cancers. Formaldehyde is prohibited for use in cosmetic products in the EU.
HSE is preparing a Regulatory Management Options Analysis (RMOA) to examine exposure of the general public to formaldehyde from formaldehyde releasers in articles.
To inform the RMOA, HSE has opened a call for evidence and invites interested parties to respond with information on the listed topic areas:
- The manufacture, import and use of articles that have the potential to release formaldehyde
- The rate of emission of formaldehyde from these articles
- Actions that may be taken to reduce exposure to formaldehyde from these sources
- Levels of formaldehyde that can be generated in indoor settings from processes which can release formaldehyde such as cooking or use of candles.
The RMOA will then assess the best regulatory approach for GB.
IFRA Workshop on Compliance with IFRA Standards
IFRA are hosting a workshop to develop guidance on the compliance mechanism to ensure a document produced by a fragrance house is compliant with the IFRA standards.
The IFRA Standards provide a framework to ensure the safe use of fragrances globally. An IFRA standard prohibits, restricts, or limits the use of certain ingredients in fragrances based on scientific publications from the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) and recommendations from the independent Expert Panel for Fragrance Safety. The standards are recognised internationally by government authorities and trade bodies. Compliance with IFRA Standards can be demonstrated by a Certificate of Conformity.
The workshop will be held with SME’s to gather their input on the value of developing a compliance and audit mechanism for the IFRA Standards.
The following points are to be discussed to assess the local needs of SMEs:
- The extent to which a compliance audit mechanism would add value to your company
- The extent to which your company is equipped today with automation tools to comply with IFRA standards
- The desired frequency of a compliance audit check
- Specific client or authority requests in relation to IFRA compliance
- Methods to ensure the safe use of materials that do not have an IFRA standard
The workshop is planned for 28 June 2023, 1-2pm (CET) as a virtual meeting.
SCCS Releases Preliminary Opinion on Children's Exposure to Methyl Salicylate
The EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has published a draft opinion on the use of Methyl Salicylate (CAS No: 119-36-8) in cosmetics intended for children.
Methyl Salicylate is a flavouring and soothing agent, commonly found in oral hygiene products and fragrance mixtures.
Under Regulation 1223/2009 (EUs overarching cosmetic regulation) Methyl Salicylate is currently regulated as a restricted ingredient with specific concentration limits.
The SCCS opinion proposes to restrict the use of Methyl Salicylate in products intended for children under the age of 6 years of age to toothpaste up to the concentration of 2.52%.
The draft is open for comments until 19 June 2023.
Indonesia’s New Eco-Labelling Criteria
Indonesia has recently introduced a new eco-labelling criteria to promote environmentally sustainable practices across the country. The criteria used are based on the Indonesian National Standard (SNI). The new SNI eco-label criteria was officially launched in March 20203.
Introduced by the Indonesian Ministry of Environmental and Forestry, the SNI eco-label provides consumers with information about the environmental impact of the products they purchase.
To qualify for the eco-label under the expanded criteria products must meet specific environmental standards including, energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction and the use of sustainable materials.
Poland Bans Single Use Plastics
Poland has introduced a law banning single-use plastic products. Some exemptions apply where a special charge is applied and a warning label is attached to the product.
In 2019 the European Commission passed the Single-use Plastics (SUP) Directive with the aim of preventing and reducing the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, in particular the marine environment and on human health. The directive introduced design and labelling requirements and waste management and clean-up obligations for producers, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes.
Poland has now signed into law legislation that implements the SUP Directive. Under this new law nine types of single-use plastic are banned entirely:
- Cotton buds (exception for medical use)
- Cutlery
- Plates
- Straws (exception for medical use)
- Drink stirrers
- Sticks attached to balloons
- Food and beverage containers and cups made from expanded polystyrene
EU Votes in Favour of Anti-Greenwashing Rules
The European Parliament has voted in favour of a set of anti-greenwashing rules that, if passed into law, will subject companies making sustainability claims to greater scrutiny.
Last month the European Commission proposed a directive regulating ‘Green Claims' that lays down detailed rules on the substantiation, communication and verification of voluntary environmental claims and labels used to market products to EU consumers.
The proposed new directive establishes the following provisions:
- Sustainability claims must be supported with hard evidence
- Environmental claims based on carbon offsetting schemes are prohibited
- A new guarantee label to encourage greater product durability
SCCS Updates Advice on HC Blue 18
Earlier this month the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) published the updated scientific evidence on the use of HC Blue 18 in cosmetics.
HC Blue 18 (CAS No: 1166834-57-6/852356-91-3) is commonly used in oxidative and non-oxidative hair dye products. In 2015 the SCCS issued an opinion categorising HC Blue 18 as a moderate sensitiser, safe for use as a hair colouring agent at a concentration up to 0.35%.
In 2022 the SCCS reviewed the 2015 opinion in light of new information about the impurities of HC Blue 18. In response the SCCS conducted another safety assessment. Based on this assessment the SCCS reiterates the conclusion of the 2015 opinion supplementing that only impurity 3B was detected at 575 nm in the test substance.
Despite concerns the assessment results indicated no genotoxic concern.
China Consults on Guidelines for Submitting Information through Cosmetic Ingredient Safety Platform
Earlier this month China’s National Institute for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) initiated a public consultation on the Guidelines for Submitting Information through the Cosmetic Ingredient Safety Information Submission Platform.
The objective of the guidelines is to provide guidance to ingredient manufacturers on the correct use of the Ingredient Safety Information Submission Platform and standardise the submission of ingredient safety information. The Guidelines consist of 12 articles including the basis, purpose, application scope, submitting entity, submission content, the generation and use of ingredient submission codes.
There are varying interpretations of the requirement to submit information on ingredients that are listed in the Inventory of Existing Cosmetic Ingredients in China 2021 (IECIC) within the industry. The consultation hopes to clarify this requirement and the general submission principles.
