Fragrance Allergens

New Hampshire Senate Tables HB 1544 Scented Products Ban in State Buildings

In May 2026 the New Hampshire Senate tabled HB 1544, a bill that would require fragrance-free cleaning and personal-care products and ban fragrance-dispensing devices in public areas of state-owned or operated buildings. This pause in the bill’s progress removes any immediate compliance obligations but signals rising occupational health and indoor air-quality scrutiny of fragranced products used in government facilities and potentially by contracted service providers.

9 May 2026, 14:09gc.nh.govUnited States

European Commission Requests SCCS Opinion on Hydroxycitronellal in Cosmetic Products

The European Commission has mandated the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety to assess QRA2-derived safe use levels for the fragrance ingredient Hydroxycitronellal in cosmetic products, on the basis of an updated exposure and sensitisation dossier and with a 12‑month deadline. This review will determine whether current EU Cosmetics Regulation conditions for this fragrance allergen remain sufficiently protective and will give manufacturers an early signal on whether adjustments to permitted concentrations or labelling might be needed in future.

7 May 2026, 07:45health.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

European Commission Amends EU Cosmetics Regulation on Fragrances, Hair Dyes and Aluminium/Zinc Salts

In April 2026 the European Commission adopted a binding amendment to the EU Cosmetics Regulation tightening limits, bans, and impurity controls for several fragrance allergens, aluminium- and zinc-containing ingredients, hair dyes, and the UV filter DHHB across cosmetic product categories. From mid-2026 to mid-2028 manufacturers and importers must reformulate deodorants, oral-care, skin-care, hair-colour, and sunscreen products to meet the new concentration and impurity limits or withdraw non-compliant items from the EU market, materially impacting portfolio strategy, labelling, and raw-material specifications.

1 May 2026, 13:40eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Cosmetics Regulation Restricts Benzaldehyde With 2026–2028 Transition Periods

The EU Cosmetics Regulation now lists benzaldehyde as a restricted substance in Annex III, with new ingredient labelling requirements and transitional deadlines set by Regulation (EU) 2026/78. Cosmetics manufacturers and importers must ensure EU products containing benzaldehyde meet the updated Annex III conditions well before the 31 July 2026 placing and 31 July 2028 sell-through cut-offs to avoid relabelling, reformulation, or withdrawal risks.

30 Apr 2026, 06:43echa.europa.euEuropean Union

Canada Sets April 2026 Start Date for Fragrance Allergen Labelling in Cosmetics (SOR/2024-63)

Section 6 of SOR/2024-63 will enter into force on 12 April 2026, making labelling of EU-listed fragrance allergens in cosmetics mandatory in Canada at 0.01% (rinse-off) and 0.001% (leave-on), with phased compliance for new products in 2026 and existing products in 2028 aligned to EU Annex III. Cosmetic manufacturers and importers now need to identify affected formulations, plan ingredient-label and CNF updates (including digital disclosure for small packs), and tighten safety documentation to avoid stop-sale and enforcement risks as these timelines approach.

16 Apr 2026, 16:05gazette.gc.caCanada

Health Canada Updates Cosmetic Notification Form And Fragrance Allergen Reporting Guidance

In April 2026, Health Canada revised the Cosmetic Notification Form and its guidance to implement new fragrance allergen disclosure rules aligned with mandatory labelling requirements taking effect on 12 April 2026. Cosmetic manufacturers and importers must now identify and flag listed fragrance allergens above very low thresholds in CNF submissions, so they need reliable ingredient data and updated notification workflows to avoid delays or non-compliance.

14 Apr 2026, 14:17canada.caCanada

Norway Consults On EU Cosmetics Regulation Amendments For Fragrances, Hair Dyes and Metals

Norway is consulting on aligning national law with the EU Omnibus II cosmetics regulation, introducing significant new bans and restrictions for fragrances, hair dyes, and metal salts. Manufacturers must audit formulations and update product labeling by early 2027 to maintain market access and comply with new safety-driven concentration limits.

5 Apr 2026, 04:49hoering.mattilsynet.noNorwayEuropean UnionEuropean Economic Area

Great Britain HSE Agency Opinion Proposes GB MCL for Eugenol

The UK Health and Safety Executive has proposed a mandatory classification for eugenol to align Great Britain with EU standards for toxicity and skin sensitisation. This development necessitates updates to safety data sheets and product labels, alongside a review of workplace risk assessments for manufacturers using this common fragrance and biocidal ingredient.

3 Apr 2026, 17:57hse.gov.ukUnited Kingdom

EU SCCS Publishes Draft Agenda for 26 March 2026 Plenary on Cosmetic Ingredients and Nanomaterials

The EU SCCS will review final and preliminary safety opinions for key cosmetic ingredients including BHA, CBD, and Microsilver in March 2026. These assessments provide the scientific basis for future EU-wide restrictions, signaling potential reformulation requirements and market access risks for consumer products.

14 Mar 2026, 14:14health.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

Denmark: Consumer Council Tænk Identifies Suspected Endocrine Disruptors in EU Lip Balms

A major consumer safety investigation has identified suspected endocrine disruptors and allergens in a significant portion of lip balms sold across the European market. This high-profile scrutiny increases the likelihood of future EU-wide restrictions on specific UV filters, siloxanes, and mineral oils used in leave-on cosmetic formulations.

12 Mar 2026, 13:51taenk.dkEuropean UnionDenmark

Canada Health Canada Clarifies Optional Fragrance-Allergen Concentration Reporting on Cosmetic Notification Form

Health Canada will move to optional concentration reporting for fragrance allergens in cosmetic notifications from April 2026 while maintaining mandatory labeling thresholds. This administrative shift requires companies to maintain high-integrity internal data to ensure labeling accuracy and compliance for substances with specific concentration limits.

11 Mar 2026, 11:50laws-lois.justice.gc.caCanada

ECHA Publishes Assessment of Regulatory Needs for Dihydroxybenzenes and Derivatives

ECHA has identified 75 dihydroxybenzene-related substances for potential REACH restrictions and harmonized classifications, targeting chemicals widely used in cosmetics, detergents, and coatings. Businesses should monitor upcoming hazard assessments as confirmed endocrine-disrupting or carcinogenic properties will likely trigger bans in consumer and professional applications.

10 Mar 2026, 13:40echa.europa.euEuropean Union

UK OPSS Recalls Rihanna Fragrances Sold by Savers Over Prohibited Allergens

The UK Office for Product Safety and Standards has recalled specific fragrance products found to contain prohibited allergens Lilial and HICC. This enforcement action highlights the ongoing risk of legacy inventory and the necessity for rigorous compliance audits to prevent market withdrawals of non-compliant cosmetic goods.

10 Mar 2026, 11:13gov.ukUnited Kingdom

UK OPSS Withdraws Glow & Lovely Hydraglow Rose Enrich Serum Cream 50g Over Serious Chemical Risk (2511-0082d)

The UK Office for Product Safety and Standards has mandated the market withdrawal of a cosmetic serum cream due to serious chemical risks from incorrect ingredient labeling and undisclosed fragrance allergens. This enforcement action highlights increasing regulatory scrutiny on allergen disclosure and labeling accuracy as critical requirements for maintaining market access in Great Britain.

9 Mar 2026, 18:18gov.ukUnited Kingdom

UK OPSS Issues Product Safety Report on Glow & Lovely Serum Containing Banned Fragrance Lilial

The UK Office for Product Safety and Standards has enforced the withdrawal of a cosmetic product containing the prohibited fragrance Lilial. This enforcement action highlights the ongoing risk of market surveillance for legacy formulations and the necessity of ensuring all CMR substances are fully removed from supply chains.

9 Mar 2026, 18:18gov.ukUnited Kingdom

EU ECHA RAC Adopts PFAS Restriction and New CLH/OEL Opinions (RAC-76 Minutes)

ECHA’s Risk Assessment Committee has finalized its support for a broad universal PFAS restriction and adopted stringent new harmonized classifications for several high-volume substances. Businesses must prepare for significant market access restrictions, updated labeling requirements, and stricter workplace exposure limits across diverse product categories including electronics, medical devices, and consumer mixtures.

9 Mar 2026, 16:40echa.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Adopts Regulation (EU) 2026/405 on Detergents and Surfactants

The EU has adopted Regulation 2026/405 to modernize detergent standards, introducing phased biodegradability mandates and mandatory digital product passports starting September 2029. Strategic planning must prioritize long-term ingredient reformulations and the integration of digital compliance tools to maintain market access and meet stricter safety requirements.

6 Mar 2026, 19:51eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Draft Commission Regulation Amending Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009 on Specific Ingredients (D110957/01, 2026/2559(RPS))

The European Union is advancing a draft regulation to restrict twelve key substances in cosmetic products, including aluminium compounds and fragrance allergens, with a legislative scrutiny deadline set for April 2026. Manufacturers must prepare for revised concentration limits and potential reformulations to ensure continued market access for products containing these widely used ingredients.

26 Feb 2026, 13:05europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Registers Imports of Benzyl Alcohol From China for Possible Anti-Dumping Duties Under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/362

The EU has mandated the registration of benzyl alcohol imports from China as of February 19, 2026, under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/362. This measure enables the retroactive application of anti-dumping duties, creating significant financial and supply chain risks for manufacturers in the fragrance, pharmaceutical, and coatings sectors.

20 Feb 2026, 16:32eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

Belgium Submits CLH Intention for Benzyl Benzoate (Skin Sens. 1B Proposed)

Belgium has proposed a new harmonised classification for Benzyl benzoate as a skin sensitiser under the EU CLP Regulation. This development will mandate updated hazard labeling and may trigger formulation reviews or substitution pressures for fragrance-intensive consumer goods.

30 Jan 2026, 16:49echa.europa.euEuropean Union