On December 17, 2025, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) provided an update on the latest meeting of its Scientific Committees. Topics of interest for cosmetics included progress on the proposed restrictions on PFAS and Octocrylene, and two opinions on the harmonized classification and labeling of Galaxolide on the one hand, and Aminomethyl Propanol on the other.
PFAS
The RAC (Risk Assessment Committee) and SEAC (Socio-Economic Analysis Committee) continued their discussions on the proposal to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) submitted to them by the five national authorities of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. They focused on the assessment of specific uses of PFAS in several sectors and on horizontal issues (relevant to the entire restriction proposal).
ECHA has confirmed that a 60-day consultation will be opened on the draft CASE Opinion expected in March 2026. To prepare for participation, the Agency has made available guidelines and a detailed mapping of uses.
In particular, it states that the assessment of the cosmetics sector covers the uses of PFAS in cosmetic products and the use of TFA in the synthesis of peptides as cosmetic ingredients.
Octocrylene
Work on the restriction proposal put forward by France also continued during the November meetings of the CER Working Group and CASE. The working group concluded, in particular, that it was justified to recommend action at the EU level.
Galaxolide
On the proposal of France, classification in Rep. 1B, H360Df (May damage the unborn child. Suspected of damaging fertility.) of this fragrance …
