UK cracks down on methyl salicylate in cosmetics with new restrictions

By Alessandro Carrara | Published: 21-Jan-2025

Methyl salicylate is a compound derived from salicylic acid and made from the leaves from the wintergreen tree

The UK’s Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has updated its regulations on the amount of methyl salicylate that can be used in cosmetics.

OPSS notified these changes in a letter to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), requesting changes to be made to the European Commission's Annex III documentation.

Annex III provides a list of substances which cosmetic products must not contain except subject to the restrictions.

Methyl salicylate, a compound derived from salicylic acid, is used in the beauty industry as a flavoring agent, fragrance and can also provide relief to muscle pain.

It is a component of oil of wintergreen, which is made using leaves from the wintergreen tree.

It can typically be found in rinse-off skin and hair products, lipstick, make-up products and mouthwashes, as well as in children’s toiletries.

Methyl salicylate is poisonous if ingested, according to a study published by the Clinical Chemistry, Immunology and Laboratory Quality Control.

It can also cause allergic reactions, skin rash, itching, hives and swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, Cleveland Clinic, a non-profit academic medical center, reported.

The new limits set out by OPSS also place a focus on a number of children’s personal care products.

The specific changes are set out below:

  • rinse-off skin and hair products (except hand wash products) at 0.02% (products intended for children 0.5-1 years), and at 0.06% (products intended for children above 1 year and adults)
  • hand wash products at 0.02% (products intended for children 0.5-1 years), and at 0.6% (products intended for children above 1 year and adults)
  • leave on skin products (except face make-up, spray/aerosol body lotion, spray/aerosol deodorant and hydroalcoholic-based fragrances) and hair products (non-aerosol) at 0.02% (products intended for children 0.5-1 years), and at 0.06% (products intended for children above 1 year and adults)
  • lipsticks and lip balm at 0.02% (products intended for children 0.5-1 years), and at 0.03% (products intended for children above 1 year and adults)
  • face make-up products at 0.05%
  • eye make-up products and make-up remover at 0.002%
  • toothpaste at 2.5%
  • mouthwash at 0.1% (products intended for children 6 to 10 years), and at 0.4% (products intended for children above 10 years and adults)
  • mouth spray at 0.65%
  • hydroalcoholic-based fragrances at 0.6%
  • deodorant spray/aerosol products 0.003%
  • hair products (spray/aerosol) at 0.009%
  • body lotion spray at 0.04%

OPSS has said the draft legislation is open for comments for 60 days from the date of notification.

The proposed placing on the market deadline is 30 September 2025, and the proposed making available on the market (off-shelf) deadline is 31 March 2026.

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