As of February, important amendments have come into force that will impact the cosmetics industry. Below is a summary of the most relevant changes.
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Regulatory Updates in Europe
As of 1 February 2025, new cosmetic products containing these substances that do not comply with the established conditions may not be marketed in the European Union. For those products already on the market, the formulas must be adapted before 1 November 2025, when non-compliant products must be withdrawn from the market.
Restricted Substances
Genistein: Up to 0.007%.
Daidzein: Up to 0.02%.
Kojic Acid: Up to 1% in face and hand products.
Alpha-Arbutin: Up to 2% in facial creams and 0.5% in body lotions. In addition, Hydroquinone levels should be kept as low as possible and not exceed the unavoidable trace level.
Arbutin: Up to 7% in facial creams, keeping Hydroquinone at trace levels only.
Hydroxyapatite (nano): Up to 10% in toothpastes and up to 0.465% in mouthwashes. Exposure by inhalation and surface modifications are not permitted.
Banned Nanomaterials
The following nanomaterials have been banned in the EU and cannot be used in new cosmetic products from 1 February 2025 :
Styrene/Acrylates copolymer (nano)
Sodium Styrene/Acrylates copolymer (nano)
Copper (nano) and colloidal copper (nano)
Colloidal silver (nano)
Gold (nano), Colloidal Gold (nano), Gold Thioethylamino Hyaluronic Acid (nano)
Acetylheptapeptide-9 Colloidal Gold (nano)
Platinum (nano), Colloidal platinum (nano)
Acetyltetrapeptide-17 Colloidal Platinum (nano)
Products already on the market must be sold and removed from shelves by 1 November 2025. After this date, they may no longer be marketed in the EU.
New Regulations in the UK
In 2022, the European Commission introduced restrictions for BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) through Regulation (EU) 2022/2195. In parallel, the United Kingdom has established its own regulation with different limits than those of the EU, which impacts the compliance of products sold in both markets.
Key Differences in BHT Limits
In the EU, BHT is limited to 0.8% on leave-on oral care products .
In the UK, the maximum permitted limit is 0.001% in leave-on oral care products .
Permitted Use of BHT in the UK
Toothpaste: Up to 0.1%.
Mouthwashes and leave-on products for oral care: Up to 0.001%.
Other leave-on and rinse-off products: Up to 0.8%.
From 24 February 2025, no new cosmetic products can be launched in the UK containing BHT outside the permitted limits. Products already on the market will have a transition period until 24 June 2025, after which they must comply with the new restrictions or be withdrawn from the market.
At Belab Services , we recommend reviewing product formulations as soon as possible to align them with the latest regulations and ensure continued availability in the market. If you need assistance with adapting your products to these new requirements, our team of experts is ready to help.
Do you have questions or need more information? Contact us for personalized advice on regulatory compliance in the EU and the UK.
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