Substances classified as CMR and banned in cosmetics sold in the European Union are not about to disappear.
The European Parliament has just voted to extend the timeframes granted to industry to remove dangerous substances from the cosmetics market after their ban.
Longer Timelines
On Wednesday, April 29, the European Parliament adopted the Omnibus VI package aimed at loosening chemical regulations. This initiative, backed by the European Commission, seeks to simplify administrative procedures for companies. It will also give them more time to remove from sale cosmetics containing substances deemed dangerous.
Concretely, the text just voted extends the deadlines granted to manufacturers significantly. While they currently have 18 months to reformulate their products or remove a substance classified as CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction), the new deadline is set at roughly two and a half years. Additionally, exemptions could range from 30 to 75 months.
A boon for the fragrance industry
Another provision initially planned to permit the presence of carcinogenic substances depending on their mode of application (whether taken orally or inhaled) for products requiring skin application. This measure was abandoned due to strong opposition from MEPs, who nonetheless kept certain usage restrictions.
Proponents of this loosening argue in favor of the economic interests of companies. They point to the industry’s difficulties and concerns, particularly in the fragrance sector, facing the potential classification of commonly used ingredients such as paracymene or acetophenone, as well as the burden of procedures to obtain exemptions.
NGOs push back
By contrast, the decision has sparked strong opposition from NGOs and some elected officials. In their view, prioritizing economic arguments over citizens’ health is simply unacceptable. And this is all the more troubling given that the EU’s substance classification process already takes years in advance.
The adopted text must now undergo negotiations among the EU’s institutions before returning to the Parliament and the Council for final approval. NGOs continue to denounce what they see as excessive deregulation, which amounts to sacrificing consumer health and safety for the exclusive benefit of the cosmetics industry.
