Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - United Kingdom - Cosmetic products

NOTIFICATION

The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6

 

1.

Notifying Member: UNITED KINGDOM

If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):

2.

Agency responsible:

Department for Business and Trade: Office for Product Safety and Standards

3.

Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [ ], 5.6.2 [ ], 5.7.1 [ ], 3.2 [ ], 7.2 [ ], Other:

4.

Products covered (HS codes or national tariff lines. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Cosmetic products are defined by Article 2(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009

ESSENTIAL OILS AND RESINOIDS; PERFUMERY, COSMETIC OR TOILET PREPARATIONS (HS code(s): 33)

5.

Details of notified document(s) (title, number of pages and languages, means of access): The Cosmetic Products Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (Restriction of Chemical Substances) (Amendment and Transitional Provisions (No. 2) Regulations 2026; (5 page(s), in English)

Link to notified document(s) and/or contact details for agency or authority which can provide copies upon request:

UK TBT Enquiry Point

Trade Group

Department for Business and Trade

Old Admiralty Building,

London

SW1A 2DY

tbtenquiriesuk@businessandtrade.gov.uk

6.

Description of content: This measure will amend Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 ("the Cosmetic Regulation") as it applies in Great Britain to restrict the use of hexyl salicylate in cosmetic products. The measure will also prohibit the use, in cosmetic products, of 13 new substances that have been classified as category 1B or 2 carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic (CMR) substances under Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (the GB Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation).

7.

Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable: The objective of the measure is to amend the Cosmetic Regulation following advice from the Scientific Advisory Group on Chemical Safety of Non-Food and Non-Medicinal Consumer Products (SAG-CS) on the safety of using hexyl salicylate in cosmetic products. SAG-CS's primary purpose is to provide the UK Government with independent scientific advice on chemical risk of products, such as cosmetics.

The measure also prohibits the use of certain substances in cosmetic products following their classification as category 1B or 2 CMR substances under the GB CLP Regulation.; Protection of human health or safety

8.

Relevant documents:

SAG-CS opinion can be found here - Hexyl Salicylate in Cosmetic Products

The Cosmetic Products Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (Restriction of Chemical Substances) (Amendment and Transitional Provisions (No. 2) Regulations 2026

9.

Proposed date of adoption: February 2026

Proposed date of entry into force: The measure will come into force on 15/08/2026, other than the amendment to Annex 2, which adds the substances classified as CMRs under the GB CLP Regulation, which will come into force on 23/03/2027.

The measure is subject to transitional arrangements. For cosmetic products containing hexyl salicylate, where a cosmetic product is placed on the market prior to 15/08/2026 and complies with the requirements of the Cosmetic Regulation as it has effect before 15/08/2026, it may continue to be made available on the market until the end of 14/02/2027.

For a cosmetic product containing any of the CMR substances, where a cosmetic product is placed on the market before 23/03/2027, it may continue to be made available on the market until the end of 22/09/2027.

10.

Provision of comments

Final date for comments: 26 January 2026

[X] 60 days from notification

Contact details of agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification:

UK TBT Enquiry Point

Trade Group

Department for Business and Trade

Old Admiralty Building,

London

SW1A 2DY

tbtenquiriesuk@businessandtrade.gov.uk