On 30 October 2025, during its plenary meeting, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) approved the European Commission’s mandate to evaluate the safety of Acetophenone, a fragrance ingredient.
Background
Acetophenone (CAS No.98-86-2, EC No.202-708-7), with chemical name “1-phenylethanone”, is an aromatic compound commonly used in cosmetics primarily as a perfuming agent, valued for its sweet and floral scent. It occurs naturally in various plant extracts (also called “NCS” for Natural Complex Substances), such as essential oils, concretes, absolutes, gums and resinoids. In addition, Acetophenone is also listed as a food additive in Implementing Regulation (EU) No.872/2012. In particular, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) concluded that the substance does not present a safety concern at current low levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent.
The European Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) of ECHA issued in March 2025 an opinion recommending among others a classification for Acetophenone as “Reprotoxic of Category 1B (H360FD)”. Following the RAC opinion, the European Commission may propose a classification for Acetophenone as a “Repr.1B” (CLP Regulation Annex VI entry).
According to Article 15(2) of the Cosmetics Regulation, “The use in cosmetic products of substances classified as CMR substances, of category 1A or 1B under Part 3 of Annex VI to Regulation (EC) No.1272/2008 shall be prohibited.” In view of this, regulatory measures must be adopted by the …
