Colipa supports EC hair colour ban

Colipa, the European cosmetics association, has announced that it fully supports the European Commission’s strategy to evaluate the safety of hair dyes and any resulting regulations.

The Commission has banned 22 hair dye substances for which it says the industry has not submitted any safety files. The scientific committee advising the Commission recommended the ban following the conclusions of a scientific study that the long-term use of certain hair dyes bears a potential risk of bladder cancer. The ban comes into force on 1 December 2006 and is the first step in a strategy agreed with member states and stakeholders in April 2003 to establish a positive list of hair dye substances considered safe for human health.

“Consumer safety is a top priority for the cosmetics industry, which has fully taken its responsibility by providing extensive scientific documentation to the SCCP demonstrating the safety of hair colouring ingredients used on the European market,” says Colipa. “The Commission strategy foresees a ban of the remaining hair colouring ingredients, ie substances for which no dossier has been provided. The cosmetics industry fully supports this measure.”