EU restricts the use of MCIT
It has concluded that the ingredient may have a sensitising effect on the skin
The European Commission has announced a public consultation on the restriction of the cosmetic ingredients MCIT (Methylchloroisothiazolinone) and MIT (methylisothiazolinone), following conclusions from the SCCS in 2009 that they may have a sensitising effect on skin.
In 2009, the SCCS concluded that: “…the mixture of 5- chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one in a ratio of 3:1 does not pose a risk to the health of the consumer when used as a preservative up to a maximum authorised concentration of 0.0015 per cent in rinse-off cosmetic products”. In light of this opinion, the Commission is now proposing to restrict the use of this mixture to rinse-off products only and amend Annex V of the Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 to this effect.
“Undertakings should be granted six months to place on the market compliant products, and 12 months to withdraw from the market non-compliant products after the entry into force of this Regulation,” said the Commission. It added that the replacement of magnesium chloride and magnesium nitrate by copper sulfate or any other authorised cosmetic ingredient as a stabiliser system did not alter the toxicological profile of the mixture.
