In January 2025, the SCCS accepted the European Commission’s mandate to assess the safety of Thiomersal and Phenylmercury salts as preservatives. The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has just published its preliminary Opinion.
Background
Mercury and its compounds have been prohibited from use in cosmetics products already in the Cosmetics Directive 76/768/EEC and this prohibition is still applicable via entry 221 of Annex II to the Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No.1223/2009.
Nevertheless, entries 16 and 17 of Annex V (preservatives) to the Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009 allow the use of “Thiomersal” and “Phenylmercuric salts (including borate)”, respectively, in cosmetic products under specific conditions.
Given the severe health risks associated with mercury, the Commission requested the SCCS to provide a scientific advice on the safety of preservatives that contain mercury (and its compounds).
For an exhaustive background information, see the article
• Thimerosal, Phenylmercuric salts, Cannabidiol: requests for SCCS Opinion, CosmeticOBS, 3 February 2025
The SCCS Opinion
In light of technical and scientific progress and SCCS’ expert judgement and taking under consideration in particular the various health concerns, the SCCS is requested:
(1) to identify and justify whether there are specific concerns regarding the current use of “Thiomersal” and “Phenylmercuric salts” as preservatives in cosmetic eye products;
Considering that the MoS based on renal toxicity as the most sensitive endpoint is below 100, and given that genotoxicity evidence is …
