EU to Extend the Individual Labelling Requirement for 56 Newly Identified Fragrance Allergens in Cosmetics

On September 15, 2022, the EU introduced 56 newly identified fragrance allergens in cosmetics in a draft Commission Regulation notified to the WTO. The draft regulation is developed in light of the opinion SCCS/1459/11 from the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS), and is open for comment until November 14, 2022. ¹

Individual Labelling Requirements for Fragrance Allergens

Fragrance substances are organic compounds widely used in perfumes and other perfumed cosmetics. To sensitive consumers, their presence may trigger allergy symptoms, even at a much lower concentration than the maximum permitted levels. In order to ensure cosmetic's safe use, Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (Cosmetics Regulation) considers it necessary to inform the sensitive consumers about the presence of fragrance allergens in cosmetics. Therefore, Article 19(1), point(g), of the Cosmetics Regulation stipulates that:

Perfume and aromatic compositions, as well as their raw material, are to be referred to by the terms "parfum" or "aroma" in the list of ingredients. Moreover, the identified fragrance allergens shall be individually labelled on the package of cosmetics when their concentration exceeds 0.001% in leave-on products or 0.01% in rinse-off products.

Currently, 24 fragrance allergens listed in Annex III (annex of restricted ingredients) to the Cosmetics Regulation are subject to the individual labelling requirements.

Newly Identified Fragrance Allergens

The draft regulation introduces 56 additional fragrance allergens that shall fulfill the individual labelling requirements. 

Besides, the draft regulation proposes to align the common names of annexed fragrance allergens in accordance with the updated "Glossary of Common Ingredient Names", as well as to complement and amend their respective CAS and EC numbers. These detailed amendments and the full list of newly identified fragrance allergens can be found here.

Further Reading

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