On June 25, 2025, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced that it had added three substances to the REACH Candidate List for authorization. Two of these may be used in cosmetic products, which means new obligations for companies marketing products containing them.
Ingredients added to the Candidate List
Methyl Trimethicone
1,1,1,3,5,5,5-heptamethyl-3-[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]trisiloxane (CAS No.17928-28-8, EC No.241-867-7, INCI: Methyl Trimethicone) is an ingredient listed in the CosIng with the functions: Hair conditioning, Skin conditioning, Solvent.
The substance is not currently regulated by European Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009.
ECHA has added it to the Candidate List because of its vPvB (very Persistent and very Bioaccumulative) properties.
Tetrasiloxane
Decamethyltetrasiloxane (CAS No.141-62-8, EC No.205-491-7, INCI: Tetrasiloxane) is an ingredient listed in the CosIng with the function: Antifoaming.
The substance is not currently regulated by European Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009.
ECHA has added it to the Candidate List because of its vPvB (very Persistent and very Bioaccumulative) properties.
Consequences for companies
Under REACH, companies have legal obligations when their substance is included – either on its own, in mixtures or in articles – in the Candidate List.
If an article contains a Candidate List substance above a concentration of 0.1 % (weight by weight), suppliers have to give their customers and consumers information on how to use it safely. Consumers have the right to ask suppliers if the products they buy contain substances of very high concern.
Importers and producers of articles have to notify ECHA …
