EU scientific committees set to work on fragrance

Published: 6-Aug-2009

A new scientific committee advising the European Commission on environmental health and consumer safety issues is reviewing controls on the 26 allergens that must be labelled on EU cosmetics packaging. A revamped scientific committee on consumer safety is now assessing products and ingredients, with a working group on sensitisation and fragrances undertaking this allergy review. New allergens could be added to the list and a working group memorandum added “the current relevance of the 26 allergens… should be reassessed due to changed fragrance compositions in consumer products”.


A new scientific committee advising the European Commission on environmental health and consumer safety issues is reviewing controls on the 26 allergens that must be labelled on EU cosmetics packaging. A revamped scientific committee on consumer safety is now assessing products and ingredients, with a working group on sensitisation and fragrances undertaking this allergy review. New allergens could be added to the list and a working group memorandum added “the current relevance of the 26 allergens… should be reassessed due to changed fragrance compositions in consumer products”.

Meanwhile a new working group on hair dyes has continued the old committees’ work on hair dye safety. It is assessing the use of Red n° 7, Yellow n° 4, Basic Yellow 57 and others.

A new working group on cosmetic ingredients is assessing new opinions on cyclomethicone, choline salts and esters; borate; and Polysilicone-15.

And a working party on nanomaterials in cosmetics is assessing titanium dioxide, a key sunscreen ingredient. A recent meeting also discussed implementing the current 100nm size limit for nanomaterials and nanoparticle inhalation exposure from cosmetic products.

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