Key takeaway
What This Development Means
The SCCS's latest opinion warns against the use of Salicylic Acid in specific cosmetic products for children aged 3 to 10, citing safety risks such as eye damage and endocrine effects. The committee recommends reducing concentration limits for safer use and invites public comments until March 2025 to shape final guidelines.
What is the SCCS's stance on Salicylic Acid in cosmetics for children?
The SCCS considers Salicylic Acid unsafe for children aged 3 to 10 at current concentration limits in products like rinse-off hair treatments and body lotions. It recommends stricter limits to ensure safety.
Can Salicylic Acid be used in products for children under three?
No, under existing regulations, Salicylic Acid is not permitted in cosmetics for children under the age of three. The SCCS’s latest opinion only applies to children aged 3 to 10.
The European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has issued a preliminary opinion on the safety of Salicylic Acid for children aged 3 to 10. Published on 13 January 2025, the report concludes that Salicylic Acid, widely used in cosmetics, is not safe at current concentration limits for certain products due to risks including eye irritation and endocrine effects. Comments on the report are open until 10 March 2025.
SCCS Highlights Safety Concerns For Children
The SCCS reviewed Salicylic Acid's safety in cosmetic products, particularly its use as a preservative and other purposes, including as an exfoliating agent. The committee assessed the compound’s safety at various concentration levels for dermal, oral, and rinse-off products, raising concerns about aggregate exposure in children.
Preservative use: The SCCS found that Salicylic Acid is unsafe as a preservative at concentrations up to 0.5% in all products, except body lotion, under current restrictions. It is also deemed unsafe for sprayable products due to potential lung exposure through inhalation.Non-preservative use: For other applications, the maximum safe concentrations are:3.0% for rinse-off hair products.2.0% for leave-on products (excluding body lotions and oral products).0.5% for body lotions and oral products.
Reduced Concentrations Recommended
The SCCS proposed that lowering the concentration of Salicylic Acid in dermal products to 0.1% would ensure safety for children. Products containing Salicylic Acid remain prohibited for children under the age of three under existing regulations.
Eye Irritation And Endocrine Effects
The report underscores that Salicylic Acid poses a significant risk of eye irritation, including serious damage, and highlights concerns about its endocrine-disrupting potential. These findings prompted stricter recommendations for its use in cosmetics targeted at young children.
Public Consultation And Implications
The preliminary opinion, identified as SCCS/1675/25, invites public and industry comments until 10 March 2025. This consultation aims to refine the recommendations further, ensuring consumer safety while maintaining product efficacy.
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