March Regulatory Updates

Cosmetics:

European Commission Launches Evaluation of Cosmetic Products Regulation

Objective of the Review
The European Commission has initiated a formal evaluation of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, better known as the Cosmetic Products Regulation. This regulation forms the harmonized legal framework for all cosmetics placed on the EU market, with the dual aim of ensuring high consumer health protection and supporting the smooth functioning of the internal market.

Evaluation Scope
The evaluation will assess the regulation’s:

Effectiveness
Efficiency
Relevance
Coherence with other legislation
EU added value

It will also examine how well the regulation has adapted to technological developments and market changes in the cosmetics sector since its adoption.

Stakeholder Participation
The Commission is inviting input from a broad range of stakeholders, including:

Industry representatives
Consumer organizations
Scientific experts
Interested members of the public

Feedback is critical to help identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities for improving the current regulatory framework. The aim is to ensure the regulation remains fit for purpose in a fast-evolving market.

Next Steps
The findings of this evaluation will guide any potential future updates or reforms to the Cosmetics Regulation. Stakeholders are encouraged to contribute their insights and experiences to support a thorough and balanced review.

Cosmetics Industry Pushes Back Against Potential SCCS Transfer to ECHA

Industry Voices Concern Over SCCS Relocation
The cosmetics industry is urging the European Commission to safeguard the independent role of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) amid growing concerns about a potential transfer of the committee’s responsibilities to ECHA. The proposal, hinted at in the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS), has raised alarms over the future of risk-based safety assessments in cosmetics.

A ‘World-Leading’ Approach at Risk?
During the recent call for evidence on the evaluation of the Cosmetic Products Regulation, industry groups warned that shifting SCCS to another EU agency could jeopardize its independence and dilute its globally recognized expertise.

SCCS itself expressed concern that such a move would damage the credibility of its risk assessments.
Cosmetics Europe praised SCCS for its role in making the regulation a model of risk-based safety.
The EFfCI (representing ingredient manufacturers) emphasized the international value of SCCS guidance.

Risk-Based vs Hazard-Based Approaches
One key fear is a shift from the SCCS’s risk-based approach (which considers exposure levels and use scenarios) to a hazard-based model, more typical of ECHA’s regulatory framework.

Under the current regime, ingredients classified as CMR substances under CLP are generally restricted in cosmetics, but SCCS can allow category 2 substances if deemed safe at specific concentrations.
Stakeholders worry that a hazard-based shift could lead to blanket bans on ingredients without factoring in real-world exposure.

Industry Urges Scientific Autonomy and Innovation

Unilever stressed that SCCS’s flexible, exposure-sensitive guidance and openness to new approach methodologies (NAMs) should be preserved.
The company applauded SCCS’s adaptive use of next-generation risk assessment tools, arguing this forward-thinking approach is vital for continued innovation and consumer safety.

Next Steps in the Evaluation
The call for evidence closed on 21 March, gathering 155 responses. A public consultation on the evaluation of the Cosmetics Regulation is expected in Q2 2025, as the Commission considers potential changes to the regulatory framework.

The message from industry is clear: protect the independence, expertise, and flexibility of the SCCS, or risk undermining one of the EU’s most trusted scientific advisory bodies in consumer health.

ECHA:

CoRAP: Community Rolling Action Plan for Substance Evaluation

Purpose of the CoRAP List:
The Community Rolling Action Plan (CoRAP) outlines substances that are currently being, or will be, evaluated by EU Member States to clarify potential risks to human health and the environment. If a substance appears on the list, it means an evaluation is planned or underway.

What the List Includes:
Each entry in the CoRAP table provides:

The Member State responsible for the evaluation (or both if it’s a joint evaluation).
The planned year of evaluation.
A brief explanation of the concern that led to its inclusion.

Supporting Documents Available:
Users can access:

Justification documents explaining the reason for inclusion.
Requests for additional information.
Final conclusions and evaluation reports for substances already assessed.

Important Notes:

When no EC number is available, a temporary number assigned by ECHA is used.
The concerns listed are preliminary and may change following evaluation.
The justification document is based on early screening and does not prejudge the evaluation outcome.
Contact details for the evaluating Member States are provided.

Common Concern Categories (Legend):

PBT/vPvB: Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic / very Persistent and very Bioaccumulative
PMT/vPvM: Persistent, Mobile and Toxic / very Persistent and very Mobile
CMR: Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, Reprotoxic
Sensitiser: Known or suspected sensitising effects
RCR: Risk Characterisation Ratio

The CoRAP list plays a central role in the REACH substance evaluation process, helping identify whether regulatory actions or additional information are needed to ensure chemical safety across the EU.

For the full list: https://echa.europa.eu/it/information-on-chemicals/evaluation/community-rolling-action-plan/corap-table#msdynttrid=w-P93fh8kBJ7oujVlHogjhaSfOzqEmE9fdeGlnmtv-Y

REACH:

EuRIC Calls for Toxic-Free Textiles to Enable Circular Economy by 2030

Meeting Circularity Goals: To meet the EU’s 2030 goals for circular textiles, the European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC) is urging companies to eliminate substances of concern from textile products and fully comply with REACH. The call aligns with the European Commission’s 2022 strategy, which targets textile recyclability, use of recycled fibres, and freedom from hazardous chemicals.

Key Recommendations from EuRIC: In its 20 March manifesto, EuRIC highlights that reducing toxic substances in textiles will:

Lower the need for energy-intensive recycling technologies
Promote a toxic-free circular value chain
Protect human health and the environment

The association advocates for full transparency across the supply chain and the elimination of intentionally added harmful chemicals that obstruct recycling.

Regulatory Challenges: EuRIC also warned that evolving chemical regulations under REACH could lead to future bans on chemicals currently allowed. This creates a risk for recyclers who may have to manage legacy materials deemed non-compliant in the future.

To address this, EuRIC calls for a pragmatic, risk-based approach that balances:

Product safety
Circular economy targets
Legal certainty for industry stakeholders

Support for SMEs: Emphasizing that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) form the backbone of the textile recycling sector, EuRIC calls for proportionate and technically feasible compliance measures to ensure SMEs can contribute to long-term sustainability without being forced out of the market.

Environmental Impact of Textiles: According to the manifesto:

Each EU citizen generates around 16kg of textile waste annually
Only 4.4kg is collected separately for reuse and recycling
The rest is typically incinerated or landfilled
The textile industry is the third largest contributor to water and land use pressure in the EU and fifth in GHG emissions and resource use

Call to Action: To reduce environmental pressure, EuRIC stresses the need to increase textile recycling, extend product lifecycles, and boost the use of recycled fibres in new products. With less than 1% of textiles recycled back into clothing, urgent action is needed to achieve EU circularity goals.

EU Commission Begins Monitoring Imports of Key Industrial Chemicals

Imports Under Scrutiny: The European Commission has launched a customs surveillance initiative to monitor imports of critical industrial chemicals—specifically ethylene and ammonia-based compounds—in response to growing concerns about market disruption and foreign competition, particularly from China. The move, announced on 24 March, aims to support the EU chemical industry by providing real-time import data.

Chemicals Being Monitored: The focus includes:

Copolymers of ethylene and alpha olefin
High-nitrogen urea
Ammonium sulfate, a key ingredient in fertilizers and industrial applications

Ethylene in the EU: Ethylene, a high-volume chemical under REACH, is produced or imported at more than 10 million tonnes per year in the EU. It is widely used in:

Fuels, coatings, and heat transfer fluids
Laboratory and industrial chemicals
Polymers, cosmetics, and personal care products

Under CLP, ethylene is classified as extremely flammable and may cause drowsiness or dizziness.

Purpose and Duration of the Surveillance: The monitoring system will:

Help assess whether increased foreign imports pose a threat to EU producers
Allow stakeholders to request further trade investigations if needed
Not impose restrictions but offer daily import data insights
Remain in effect for three years

Push for Industrial Safeguards: France and seven other EU countries have called on the Commission to introduce a Critical Chemicals Act to protect the domestic production of substances like ethylene. The request was raised during a Competitiveness Council meeting earlier this year.

Context of Export Restrictions: Separately, in April 2023, the Commission announced it was considering banning the production for export of substances that are banned within the EU, signaling a broader strategy to tighten controls and reinforce internal chemical safety and trade standards.

Biocides:

CIT Denied EU Approval, While Spinosad and Cypermethrin Approvals Extended

CIT Preservative Rejected Under BPR
The European Commission has officially denied approval for the preservative 5-chloro-2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one (CIT) under the EU Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR). CIT was proposed for use in product-type 6 (preservatives for products during storage), aimed at controlling microbial deterioration in items such as paints, adhesives, and other manufactured goods—not including food or cosmetics.

The decision follows a negative opinion from ECHA’s Biocidal Products Committee (BPC), which rejected the approval due to insufficient data on endocrine-disrupting properties. The evaluation dossier was prepared by France. The non-approval officially takes effect from 16 March.

Extensions for Spinosad and Cypermethrin
In parallel, the Commission has extended the approvals for two other active substances:

Spinosad, used in insecticides, acaricides, and arthropod control products (PT 18), will remain approved until 31 October 2027.
Cypermethrin, used in wood preservatives (PT 8), is now extended until 30 November 2027.

These extensions were granted because the original approvals were due to expire before renewal decisions could be finalized—a situation outside the applicants’ control.