The Cosmetic Products (Restriction of Chemical Substances) Regulations 2025

Statutory Instruments

2025 No. 413

CONSUMER PROTECTION

The Cosmetic Products (Restriction of Chemical Substances) Regulations 2025

Made

27th March 2025

Laid before Parliament

31st March 2025

Coming into force

30th September 2025

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 31(1)(g)(i) and 32(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products (“the Regulation”)(1).

In accordance with Article 31(1)(g)(i) of the Regulation, the Secretary of State considers there is sufficient scientific evidence that the substance set out in the Schedule to these Regulations is safe for use in cosmetic products, where the substance has been classified as a CMR(2) substance of category 2 under Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures(3).

Citation, commencement and extent

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Cosmetic Products (Restriction of Chemical Substances) Regulations 2025.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 30th September 2025.

(3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland.

Amendment to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009

2.  In Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products, at the end of the table in Annex 3 (list of substances which cosmetic products must not contain except subject to the restrictions laid down), insert the entry set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.

Transitional Provision

3.  Where a cosmetic product containing the substance set out in the Schedule is placed on the market on or before 30th September 2025, it may continue to be made available on the market until the end of 31st March 2026.

Justin Madders

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Department for Business and Trade

27th March 2025

Regulation 2

Schedule Amendment to Annex 3

324

Methyl 2-hydroxybenzoate

Methyl salicylate

119-36-8

204-317-7

(a) Rinse-off skin & hair products (except hand wash products) (b) Hand wash products (c) Leave on skin products (except face makeup, spray and aerosol body lotion, spray and aerosol deodorant and hydroalcoholic-based fragrances) and hair products (non-aerosol) (d) Lip products (e) Face makeup products (f) Eye makeup products & makeup remover (g) Toothpaste (h) Mouthwash (i) Mouth spray (j) Hydroalcoholic-based fragrances (k) Deodorant spray and aerosol products (l) Hair products (spray and aerosol) (m) Body Lotion Spray

(a) (1) 0.02% (products intended for children 0.5-1 years) (2) 0.06% (products intended for children above 1 year and adults) (b) (1) 0.02% (products intended for children 0.5-1 years) (2) 0.6% (products intended for children above 1 year and adults) (c) (1) 0.02% (products intended for children 0.5-1 years) (2) 0.06% (products intended for children above 1 year and adults) (d) (1) 0.02% (products intended for children 0.5-1 years) (2) 0.03% (products intended for children above 1 year and adults) (e) 0.05% (f) 0.002% (g) 2.5% (h) (1) 0.1% (products intended for children 6 to 10 years) (2) 0.4% (products intended for children above 10 years and adults) (i) 0.65% (j) 0.6% (k) 0.003% (l) 0.009% (m) 0.04%

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend Annex 3 to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 to restrict the use of methyl salicylate in cosmetic products, to ensure that different types of cosmetic products contain safe levels of methyl salicylate, in accordance with advice from the Scientific Advisory Group on Chemical Safety of Non-Food and Non-Medicinal Consumer Products.

Regulation 3 provides for transitional arrangements for cosmetic products containing methyl salicylate and provides that where these products are placed on the market prior to the commencement of these Regulations, they may continue to be made available on the market until the end of 31st March 2026.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or business sectors is foreseen. An Explanatory Memorandum is published alongside these Regulations on www.legislation.gov.uk.

(1)

EUR 2009/1223; relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2022/659, S.I. 2023/836, S.I. 2024/455, S.I. 2024/1334.

(2)

For the definition of “CMR” see Article 2(1)(va) of the Regulation.

(3)

EUR 2008/1272, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.