On April 5, 2016, the European Commission Cosmetics Committee voted to approve a proposal to ban the use of the preservative isothiazolinone (MI, also known as MIT) in resident cosmetics.
On January 4, 2016, the European Commission issued Notice G/TBT/N/EU/332 to the WTO, proposing to revise Annex V (List of Permitted Preservatives in Cosmetics) of the EU Cosmetic Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, by adding a requirement for the product type Rinse off products to the 57 preservatives. This means that preservative MI is only allowed to be used for rinse off products and is prohibited from being used for leaf on products.
Isothiazolinone is a preservative widely used in products, such as body lotion, makeup and deodorant. The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) of the European Commission explicitly stated in 2013 that the preservative isothiazolinone is allergenic and should not be used in resident cosmetics.
The formal revision will be published on OJ within 3 months and will take effect on the 20th day after OJ publication. After a transition period of 6 months, it will be officially implemented.
On April 1, 2016, the European Commission conducted a public consultation on the revision of the limit of preservative MI in rinse off cosmetics, proposing to adjust the existing limit of 100ppm to 15ppm. The public consultation deadline is July 1, 2016.
