EU adopts new directive on final batch of hair dye substances

The European Commission has taken up a new directive to restrict the use of an additional 24 substances in hair dye formulations, in a bid to make sure that hair dyes contain only the safest of substances.

The Commission and Member States decided in 2003, within the framework of the Cosmetics Directive, to an overall strategy to assess and regulate all hair dyes, according to cosmeticsdesign-europe.com.

In European market, over 60% of women and 5% to 10% of men colour their hair with the average use being 6-8 times per year.

The commission asked the cosmetics industry to validate the safety of all substances used in hair dyes with the latest data, which would concentrate mainly on their potentially toxic proprieties.

From the time of the assessment of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS), the Commission has banned 180 substances and restricted the use of another 52. In the new adoption of the Directive the restricted use extends to 24 additional substances.

According to commission, on 27 July 1976, the hair dye products were divided into three categories – temporary, semi-permanent and permanent, which are regulated by the Council Directive 76/768/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products ("Cosmetics Directive 76/768/EEC ").

The commission is yet to assess a final batch of 45 substances, depending on whose safety as per the individual opinions that are received, the EC will propose appropriate regulatory measures, such as a restricted authorisation or a ban of these substances.