On 25 June 2026, the SCCS (Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety) approved, at its plenary meeting, the European Commission’s mandate to assess the safety of Phytonadione Epoxide (Vitamin K1 oxide). The Scientific Committee has 12 months to issue its opinion.
Background
Regulation (EC) No.1223/2009 on cosmetic products lays down that cosmetic products made available on the Union market must be safe for human health when used under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use. In this framework, the European Commission relies on the independent scientific advice of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) for the assessment of substances used in cosmetics that may raise concerns for consumer health.
Phytonadione Epoxide (INCI) (Vitamin K1 oxide) (CAS No.25486-55-9, EC No.247-022-9) is a synthetic or naturally occurring oxidised form of vitamin K1 (phytonadione), resulting from the epoxidation of the naphthoquinone ring. In cosmetic products, it is mainly used as a skin conditioning agent and is reported to contribute to reducing the appearance of dark circles and redness, as well as improving skin tone uniformity. It is therefore used among others in products such as eye contour creams, anti-ageing serums and formulations intended for sensitive or redness-prone skin.
Phytonadione (Vitamin K1) was previously used in cosmetic products for skin conditioning purposes. However, due to reported cases of allergic contact dermatitis associated with its topical use, Vitamin K1 was prohibited for use in cosmetic products in the European Union in 2009 …
