On October 30, 2024, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Enforcement Forum revealed that 6% of cosmetic products in 13 European Economic Area (EEA) countries contained banned hazardous chemicals as per the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and REACH Regulations.
The survey examined around 4,500 cosmetics, focusing on detecting Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), long-chain Perfluorocarboxylic Acids (PFCAs), their derivatives, and cyclic silicones D4 and D5. The findings indicated that 285 products did not comply with regulations, containing prohibited substances.
Due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity (PBT/vPvB), certain chemicals are banned in cosmetics under POPs and REACH Regulations. Research shows these chemicals degrade slowly, accumulate in biological systems, and may impair reproductive health or cause cancer.
Enforcement Actions
Regulatory agencies have taken steps to remove non-compliant cosmetics from the market, typically starting with written guidance to suppliers to ensure compliance. About half of these cases are still under investigation.
ChemRadar Insights
From November 2023 to April 2024, a pilot enforcement project was conducted to strengthen the regulation of chemical use in cosmetics, safeguarding consumer health and environmental safety. Chemradar urges companies to keep abreast of the latest ECHA regulations and guidelines to maintain compliance and avoid legal and trade repercussions.
