UK Amendment to the Cosmetic Products (Restriction of Chemical Substances) Regulations

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On July 6, 2023, the UK issued the new 2023Cosmetics & Personal Care(Restriction of Chemicals) Regulations, which amended the List of Substances Restricted in Cosmetic Products (Annex 3) and the List of UV Filters Allowed in Cosmetic Products (Annex 6).

Background of UK Cosmetic Regulations

After the Brexit transition period ended on January 1, 2021, the UK continued to adopt EU Cosmetic Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 for cosmetic supervision, but updates are no longer synchronized with the EU, now referred to as the UK Cosmetic Regulations. These regulations apply to England, Wales, and Scotland, while cosmetics in Northern Ireland remain under EU Cosmetic Regulation. Therefore, exporters to the UK need to be aware of regulatory differences based on destination and implement appropriate compliance measures.

This Amendment Content

Amendment of restricted substances

The regulation adds the following substances to the List of Substances Restricted in Cosmetic Products (Annex 3):

Amendment of restricted substances

Common ingredient name	Methyl-N-methylanthranilate Methyl o-aminobenzoate
CAS number	85-91-6
EC number	201-642-6
Product Type	(a) Leave-on products (b) Rinse-off products
Maximum concentration	(a) 0.1% (b) 0.2%
Others	For (a) only: Not to be used in sunscreen products and products exposed to natural or artificial UV light. For both (a) and (b): - Do not use with nitrosating agents; - Maximum nitrosamine content: 50μg/kg; - Store in containers free of nitrites
Transitional requirements	Effective from July 6, 2024. Cosmetics placed on the market before the effective date may continue to be sold until July 6, 2026.

Revision of the UV filter list

The regulation adds the following substances to the List of UV filters allowed in cosmetics (Annex 6):

Revision of UV filter list - non-nano

Common ingredient name	1,1’-(1,4-piperazinediyl)bis[1-[2-[4-(diethylamino)-2-hydroxybenzoyl]phenyl]-methanone 1,1'-(1,4-Piperazinediyl)bis[1-[2-[4-(diethylamino)-2-hydroxybenzoyl]phenyl]-methanone
Common ingredient name	HAA299 (non-nano)
CAS number	919803-06-8
EC number	485-100-6
Maximum concentration	10%
Others	When using both HAA299 (non-nano) and HAA299 (nano) ingredients, the total content shall not exceed 10%.
Effective date	July 27, 2023

Revision of UV filter list - nano

Common ingredient name	1,1’-(1,4-piperazinediyl)bis[1-[2-[4-(diethylamino)-2-hydroxybenzoyl]phenyl]-methanone 1,1'-(1,4-Piperazinediyl)bis[1-[2-[4-(diethylamino)-2-hydroxybenzoyl]phenyl]-methanone
Common ingredient name	HAA299 (nanometer)
CAS number	919803-06-8
EC number	485-100-6
Maximum concentration	10%
Others	Only nanomaterials with the following characteristics are permitted: - Purity ≥97%, - Median particle size ≥50nm. Not to be used in applications that may lead to lung exposure through consumer inhalation. When using both HAA299 (non-nano) and HAA299 (nano) ingredients, the total content shall not exceed 10%.
Effective date	July 27, 2023

The UKs regulatory amendments primarily reference the assessment opinions of the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and the amendments to the (EC) No 1223/2009 Cosmetic Regulation.

Previously, the EU had implemented identical regulatory updates for the aforementioned substances, with relevant details as follows:

Methyl-N-methylanthranilate has been added to the List of Restricted Substances in Cosmetics. This change takes effect from January 21, 2022, and products containing this substance that do not meet the relevant conditions may not be placed on the EU market from August 21, 2022, nor sold in the EU market from 2022121.

The List of UV filters allowed in cosmetics has been updated to include HAA299 (non-nano) and HAA299 (nano). This change took effect from November 30, 2022.