Several regulatory developments related to endocrine disruptors are ongoing in the EU. Among them, the ECHA committees (European Chemicals Agency) have the duty to review ingredients suspected to be endocrine disruptors and that may have serious effects on human health or the environment.
The first significant cosmetic ingredient to be reviewed in this regard was Butylparaben (currently restricted at 0.14% in the end-user product by the European Cosmetics Regulation). Because of its endocrine disruption properties, the EACH Risk Assessment Committee decided to add it to the Candidate list on June 25th, 2020. This list includes all substances that are candidate for an eventual inclusion on the REACH authorization list (Annex XIV). Once part of the authorization list, companies have to apply for permission to continue using these specific chemicals after the sunset date. Ingredients added to the candidate list do not have a bright future and are almost systematically banned or severely restricted at a time horizon of a few years. It is noteworthy that Cyclopentasiloxane (D5), Cyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and Cyclohexasiloxane (D6) are also reported in this list.
Consequently, BIORIUS recommends that cosmetic brands using Butylparaben start to plan its phasing out and identify a suitable alternative.
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