SCCS OKs Preservative PHMB At 0.1%, Leaving Room For EU Cosmetic Use

European NGOs have been clamoring for a ban on the use of preservative polyaminopropyl biguanide in cosmetics due to its listing under EU regs as potentially carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic. The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety can clear such substances as safe for cosmetics use, but prior to the group’s December opinion, it looked as if another preservative could be struck from industry’s toolkit.

Yet another threatened preservative in Europe should remain a viable tool for cosmetic formulators following a scientific advisory committee decision that polyaminopropyl biguanide (PHMB) is safe for use at concentrations up to 0.1%.

The European Commission's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety adopted the opinion in late December after reviewing new data...

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