As part of a pilot enforcement project, national authorities in 13 EU countries checked almost 4,500 cosmetic products for compliance with the REACH legislation and the regulation on POPs (persistent organic pollutants). This was done primarily by checking the list of ingredients in the products, focusing on the substances perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) and related substances, and the siloxanes D4 and D5.
A total of 285 products were found to contain substances that are banned in cosmetics because they are toxic to the environment or harmful to health.
Available across many brands and price ranges
The banned substances included D4 and D5 that were found in hair conditioners and other hair products, and perfluorononyl dimethicone in eyeliners and lipliners. Perfluorononyl dimethicone degrades into PFOA, which is a PFAS and a suspected carcinogen.
The substances were found in products from various suppliers and at all price ranges. The non-compliant products were removed from the market.
For more information about substances in cosmetic products, please contact:
Lise M. Møller
lmm@dhigroup.com
Tel +45 4516 9133
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