ASEAN Cosmetics Directive: Bans 5 Types of Parabens
The Association of Southeast Asia Nations’ (Asean) Cosmetics Committee (ACC) recently decided to ban the use of the following five parabens as preservatives in cosmetics:
– 對羥基苯甲酸異丙酯 isopropylparaben；
– 對羥基苯甲酸異丁酯 isobutylparaben；
– 4-羟基苯甲酸苯酯 phenylparaben；
– 對羥基苯甲酸芐酯 benzylparaben；
– 戊基羥苯甲酯 pentylparaben。
The five chemicals mentioned above will be added to the list of prohibited cosmetic ingredients in Annex II of the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive. Products already on the market containing these substances can remain on the shelves in most ASEAN countries until July 30, 2015. However, Thailand and the Philippines have extended this date to December 31, 2015. This ban will bring the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive in line with EU cosmetic regulations.
ACC Vice President Alain Khaiat stated that in order to help ASEAN countries align with the international market, the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive is basically modeled after the EU Cosmetics Regulations. Therefore, if there are any changes to the EU Cosmetics Directive, the ACC will follow suit after research and discussion.
In order to align with EU cosmetic regulations, the ACC also limits the content of triclosan, an active ingredient commonly used as a disinfectant, in mouthwash to less than 0.2%, and in other cosmetics (such as toothpaste, hand soap, and loose powder) to less than 0.3%.
At the same meeting, the ACC resolved to continue monitoring the development of EU regulations restricting the use of the preservative methylisothiazolinone, which is currently regulated by the ACD to be added in amounts of less than 0.01%.
The ACC has amended the list of restricted substances in Annex III for boric acid, changing the restricted additive category from "hygiene products" to "oral hygiene products," and adopting the settings from last year's EU regulations as follows:
– Maximum addition limits for the preservatives cetrimonium chloride, steartrimonium chloride, behentrimonium chloride, a mixture of citric acid and silver nitrate, and nano-UV filter tris-biphenyl triazine;
– Mixtures of methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI) are prohibited from use in rinse-free products;
– Maximum addition limits for propylparaben and ethylparaben.
Sources: Chemical Watch (2015-01-15) (Compiled by PIDC)
