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OPSS communication about cosmetics containing the banned ingredient Lilial.
On 14 October 2024, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) published a reminder to the UK cosmetics industry that any product containing butylphenyl methylpropional (fragrance ingredient BMHCA, ‘Lilial’) must not be available on the market. The announcement can be found here.
As per this news item, Lilial was added to Annex II of the UK Cosmetics Regulation with the ‘placing on the market’ deadline of 15 October 2022, and the ‘making available on the market’ deadline (off-shelf) of 15 December 2022.
OPSS is asking to companies to check their stock to ensure no product contains Lilial, immediately stop selling these products and consider recalling any sold after the ban came into place.
In its communication, OPSS is also asking consumers to dispose of products containing BMHCA. However, this is not necessary because it is important to stress that the CMR classification of BMHCA, which has triggered the ban, is based on the hazardous properties a substance might have under a "worst case" situation and does not take account of whether there is any risk associated with specific uses or exposures. Consumers who have bought cosmetic and personal care products that contain BMHCA, can be reassured that these products are still safe to use. They will have undergone a rigorous safety assessment by an expert safety assessor to ensure their safe use.
