Argentina Updates Lists of Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients

On May 21, 2026, Argentina's National Administration of Drugs, Food and Medical Devices (ANMAT) issued Order No. 2599/2026 and Order No. 2601/2026, incorporating Mercosur/GMC/Resolution No. 06/2025 and Mercosur/GMC/Resolution No. 07/2025 into the national legal framework, respectively. The Orders amend the lists of prohibited and restricted cosmetic ingredients, with transitional periods of 12 to 24 months granted for compliance.^1-2

The key amendments introduced by the Orders are summarized below through selected examples, with changes from the existing lists highlighted in red:

1. List of Prohibited Ingredients

Currently, cosmetics placed on the Argentine market must not contain ingredients listed in the annex to Order No. 6433/2015 and its subsequent amendments. Through Order No. 2601/2026, Argentina revises the prohibited ingredient list with 13 additions, 2 revisions, and 5 deletions.

For products already granted market authorization that are affected by the amendments, a 12-month transitional period is provided for compliance from the Order's publication date. An exception applies to Butylphenyl Methylpropional (Lilial) and Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde (HICC), for which an 18-month transitional period is granted.