[Updated] EU SCCS Releases Final Opinion on Children’s Exposure to Methyl Salicylate

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on May 18, 2023, and was updated on September 25, 2023, as per the latest developments.

On May 16, 2023, EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) published a draft opinion on the use of Methyl Salicylate (CAS No. 119-36-8) in cosmetics intended for children. Following a four-month period, on September 22, 2023, SCCS released the finalized opinion.¹ In compassion to the draft, the final opinion now includes the product category of hair conditioner in the safe use opinion for children aged 0.5-3 years (highlighted in red below).

Methyl Salicylate is a flavouring and soothing agent in oral hygiene products, and also commonly found in fragrance mixtures. It is currently regulated as a restricted cosmetic ingredient under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, with specific concentration limits outlined in the table below. Following these limits, for children under 6 years of age, Methyl Salicylate is safe for use only in toothpaste up to the concentration of 2.52%.

Product type	Maximum concentration in ready-for-use preparation	Notes
Leave-on skin products (except face makeup, spray/aerosol body lotion, spray/aerosol deodorant and hydroalcoholic-based fragrances), and leave on hair products (except spray/aerosol products)	0.06%	Not to be used in preparations for children under 6 years of age, except for toothpaste.
Face makeup (except lip products, eye makeup and makeup remover)	0.05%
Eye makeup and makeup remover	0.002%
Leave-on hair products (spray/aerosol)	0.009%
Deodorant (spray/aerosol)	0.003%
Body lotion (spray/aerosol)	0.04%
Rinse-off skin products (except hand wash) and rinse-off hair products	0.06%
Hand wash	0.6%
Hydroalcoholic-based fragrances	0.6%
Lip products	0.03%
Toothpaste	2.52%
Mouthwash intended for children aged 6-10 years	0.1%
Mouthwash intended for children above 10 years of age and adults	0.6%
Mouth spray	0.65%

In November 2022, SCCS received new data supporting the use of Methyl Salicylate in cosmetics intended for children (aged 0-3 years and 3-6 years). Based on this information, SCCS conducted assessments on children's exposure to Methyl Salicylate in cosmetics and concluded that, in addition to the previously specified concentration limit for toothpaste, Methyl Salicylate is safe for use:

in cosmetics intended for children aged 0.5-3 years, with the maximum concentration of 0.02% in shower gel, hand soap, shampoo, body lotion, face cream, hand cream, lip products, and hair conditioner.
As no specific data were provided by the applicant for children below 6 months, this age category is not considered in the safety assessment;
in cosmetics intended for children aged 3-6 years, with the allowed maximum concentrations indicated in table above in shower gel, hand soap, shampoo, body lotion, face cream, hand cream, lip products, and hair conditioner.

[Updated] EU SCCS Releases Final Opinion on Children’s Exposure to Methyl Salicylate

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