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EU cosmetic regulations
Across Europe, chemicals in cosmetics are being scrutinized more than ever before to enhance product safety. Read the latest regulatory restrictions in cosmetics.
[This article was published in September 2024 and updated in June 2025 to reflect amendments to some of the mentioned legislation, namely:
The EU Cosmetics Regulation: Amendments to Annexes II and Annexes III on substances banned or permitted in a cosmetic product.]
Consumer safety and product safety are at the forefront of updated cosmetic ingredients permitted for use on the EU market. Regulatory authorities are paying more attention to the chemical substances used in cosmetic products as well as demanding more transparency from the cosmetics industry regarding their product information.
New and amended European regulation is managing the presence and impact of chemical substances in manufacturers’ ingredient lists.
In our 2024 mid-year Global Outlook webinar on chemicals and chemical products in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Regulatory and Compliance Managing Analyst for EMEA, Kimberley de Miguel detailed several restrictions, amendments, and bans regulating cosmetic products in the EU, with the ultimate aim of boosting consumer safety and product safety for healthier and more sustainable cosmetic products.
Read on for key cosmetics updates — and click here to see a timeline infographic of 2025 cosmetic regulations.
Revision of the EU Cosmetics Regulation
On 12 May 2025, the European Commission amended Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 with the publication of the Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/877.
Regulation 2025/877 aims to manage the presence and continual use of potentially harmful and toxic chemicals in each cosmetic product placed on the EU market.
The amended proposal was initially expected in the final quarter of 2022. However, , but the European Commission had delayed its publication due to ongoing political discussions.
As of May 2025, Regulation 2025/877 includes updates to Annexes II on substances prohibited for use in cosmetic ingredients and Annexes III on substances allowed to be used with restrictions. The amendments take specific chemicals into account, such as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction (CMR) substances.
The Regulation is applicable to all EU Member States from 1 September 2025.
Bans and restrictions for cosmetics
In March and April 2024, respectively, the European Commission published two new laws establishing stricter bans and restrictions for certain substances in cosmetics:
Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/858 bans the use of certain nanomaterials and restricts hydroxyapatite (nano).
Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/996 bans 4-methylbenzylidene camphor and further regulates the use of:
- Genistein, daidzein, kojic acid, alpha-arbutin and arbutin (effective from 1 February 2025)
- Retinol, retinyl acetate and retinyl palmitate (effective from 1 November 2025)
- Preservatives triclocarban and triclosan (effective from 31 October 2025)
The laws also set concentration limits for retinol, retinyl acetate and retinyl palmitate, regulating a maximum of 0.05% retinol equivalent in body lotion and up to 0.3% in other cosmetic products.
Further bans were established in June 2024 with the draft version of Omnibus Act VII, which bans cosmetic substances newly classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic (CMR) in the 21st ATP to the CLP Regulation.
By 1 September 2025, any non-compliant cosmetics must be sold or recalled. The process for manufacturers has been defined as follows:
- Identify products containing the soon-to-be-banned substances
- Inform the supply chain
- Source alternatives and reformulate products accordingly
- Update product information file (PIF) and safety assessment
- Relabel revised products
- Update CPNP notification and ensure old products are either sold or recalled by the deadline
Cosmetic regulation amending REACH
In May 2024, the European Commission published Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/1328, amending REACH with restrictions on D4, D5, and D6 substances.
The law regulates that these substances can’t be placed on the market in a concentration > 0.1% by weight of the respective substance after 6 June 2026.
| REACH before the 2024 update | Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/1328 | EU Cosmetics Regulation | |
| Cyclotetrasiloxane, D4 | Up to 0.1% in rinse-off cosmetics | Up to 0.1% in leave-on cosmetic products | Banned |
| Cyclopentasiloxane, D5 | Up to 0.15% in rinse-off cosmetics | Up to 0.1% in leave-on cosmetic products | Not regulated |
| Clohexasiloxane, D6 | Not regulated | Up to 0.1% in all cosmetic products | Not regulated |
Outside of cosmetic products, the regulation also extended the transitional period for medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices, medicinal products and veterinary medicinal products, and solvents in the dry cleaning of textiles, leather and fur.
Trending cosmetics and personal care regulations
In this comprehensive report on regulatory developments for chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products, you’ll find the latest information on:
- EU regulations for children’s cosmetics products
- Cosmetics and personal care regulations in the US
- Safety plans for cosmetics manufacturing in South Korea
- Cosmetics updates in Malaysia, Brazil, and the UK
- Free webinars and newsletters of interest
Stay ahead of evolving cosmetics legislation.
