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The safety of cosmetic ingredients and products is governed by the UK and EU Cosmetics Regulations, in regard to consumer safety, and the UK and EU Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) Regulations, in regard to occupational and environmental safety. This infographic outlines the interlink and scope of these regulations for cosmetic ingredients.
Octocrylene and the Cosmetics Regulation
Under the EU and UK Cosmetics Regulations, octocrylene is a UV filter approved for use in cosmetic products as it is included in Annex VI entry 10 of these regulations.
The safety of octocrylene in sunscreen products has recently been re-confirmed by both the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and the UK Scientific Advisory Group on Chemicals Safety (SAG-CS). Octocrylene is therefore permitted for use under the EU and UK Cosmetics Regulations, according to its Annex VI entry in the respective regulations.
Octocrylene and REACH Regulation
In October 2023, the French authorities submitted an intention for restriction of octocrylene under the EU REACH Regulation due to suspected persistency, bioaccumulation and endocrine disruption to the environment. This is an intention and will be subject to rigorous process to determine whether a restriction is appropriate to manage identified risks, or not.
Restrictions under REACH are normally used to limit or ban the manufacture, placing on the market (including imports) or use of a substance, but can impose any relevant condition, such as requiring technical measures or specific labels. All information on restrictions can be found on the ECHA website. The EU REACH restriction process is lengthy and can take a significant amount of time, approximately 3 - 6 years, followed by transitional provisions if a restriction is found to be necessary.
The first restriction proposal by the French authorities is currently under consultation until 24 March 2026. Cosmetics Europe, the European personal care trade association, is working with interested parties and environmental experts to provide robust scientific input to this consultation and submit additional evidence to defend the continued safe use of octocrylene as a UV filter.
Therefore, octocrylene is a safe and effective UV filter, which are critical for protection against UV rays, and it is permitted for use in cosmetic products under the Cosmetics and REACH Regulations.
