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On December 17, 2024, UK published the Cosmetic Products (Restriction of Chemical Substances) (No. 2) Regulations 2024, introducing amendments to the ingredient lists in UK Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 (Cosmetics Regulation). The Regulation will come into force on January 31, 2025.1
Developed from two drafts notified to the WTO in April and October 2024, the amendments include the addition of 64 prohibited ingredients and one restricted ingredient. Compared to earlier drafts, the final regulation removes one prohibited ingredient, and updates the transitional provisions for cosmetics containing newly prohibited ingredients. The specific details of the amendments are as follows:
1. List of Prohibited Ingredients: 64 added
Under UK's cosmetics regulatory framework, CMR substances (those classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction) are banned in cosmetic products, unless an exemption has been granted by the Secretary of State. The ingredients listed below are identified as CMR substances, making them subject to the prohibition. In the final regulation, 64 ingredients are included into the prohibited ingredients list, down from 65 in early drafts, with "2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanol / Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether" (CAS No. 203-906-6) removed.
Ref. No. | Newly Prohibited Ingredients (Excerpt) | CAS No. | EC No. |
1680 | Tetrafluoroethylene | 116-14-3 | 204-126-9 |
1681 | 6,6'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-methylenedi-p-cresol; [DBMC] | 119-47-1 | 204-327-1 |
1682 | (5-chloro-2-methoxy-4-methyl-3-pyridyl)(4,5,6-trimethoxy-o-tolyl)methanone; pyriofenone | 688046-61-9 | 692-456-8 |
1683 | (RS)-1-{1-ethyl-4-[4-mesyl-3-(2-methoxyethoxy)-o-toluoyl]pyrazol-5-yloxy}ethyl methyl carbonate; tolpyralate | 1101132-67-5 | / |
1684 | 3-methylpyrazole | 1453-58-3 | 215-925-7 |
1739 | Benfluralin (ISO); N-butyl-N-ethyl-α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-p-toluidine | 1861-40-1 | 217-465-2 |
1740 | N,N-dimethyl-p-toluidine | 99-97-8 | 202-805-4 |
1741 | 4-nitrosomorpholine | 59-89-2 | / |
1742 | 3,3'-dimethylbiphenyl 4,4'-diyl diisocyanate | 91-97-4 | 202-112-7 |
1743 | Foramsulfuron (ISO); 2-{[(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)carbamoyl]sulfamoyl}-4-formamido-N,N dimethylbenzamide; 1-(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)-3-(2-dimethylcarbamoyl-5-formamidophenylsulfonyl)urea | 173159-57-4 | / |
Notes: | |||
2. List of Restricted Ingredients: 1 added
In October 2023, the Scientific Advisory Group on Chemical Safety of Non-Food and Non-Medicinal Consumer Products (SAG-CS) issued a scientific opinion on Kojic Acid, confirming that its use is safe at a maximum concentration of 1% in face and hand creams. Following this, the Regulation adds Kojic Acid to the restricted ingredients list to regulate its use in cosmetics.
Ref. No. | Substance Identification | Restrictions | ||||
Chemical Name / INN | Name of Common Ingredients Glossary | CAS No. | EC No. | Product Type | Maximum Concentration | |
323 | 5-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)pyran-4-one | Kojic acid | 501-30-4 | 207-922-4 | Face and hand products | 1% |
Notes: | ||||||
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