EU SCCS Updates Opinion on Children’s Exposure to Methyl Salicylate

On January 20, 2025, the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) released draft revisions to its previous opinion on the use of methyl salicylate (CAS No. 119-36-8) in cosmetics intended for children. The draft is open for comments until February 17, 2025.¹

Methyl salicylate is currently regulated as a restricted cosmetic ingredient under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, with specific concentration limits for various product types and age groups. In September 2023, SCCS published opinion SCCS/1654/23, establishing safe-use concentrations for this substance in cosmetics for children aged 0.5–3 and 3–6 years. For both age groups, it affirmed that toothpaste containing up to 2.52% methyl salicylate was safe. Subsequently, while finalizing its opinion (addendum to SCCS/1658/23) on hexyl salicylate using the latest data, SCCS observed that the amount of toothpaste ingested by children under 3 years old was much higher than previously accounted in its assessment of methyl salicylate, raising concerns regarding the conclusions in SCCS/1654/23. In view of this, SCCS re-assessed the safety of this substance, and issued this new opinion.

Based on SCCS/1658/23 and aggregate exposure data, SCCS revises its opinion in SCCS/1654/23 to lower the safe-use concentration of methyl salicylate in toothpaste for children aged 0–3 years to 0.45%. It also reaffirms the safety of this substance at a maximum concentration of 0.02% in other products.

EU SCCS Updates Opinion on Children’s Exposure to Methyl Salicylate

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