PARIS — The European Commission on Friday said it has lowered the maximum concentration of two parabens allowed in cosmetics products and has banned them from leave-on products used to counter diaper-related irritation for children under three.
For the preservatives Propylparaben and Butylparaben, the highest concentration allowed will be changed from the current 0.4 percent when used individually and 0.8 percent when mixed with other esters to 0.14 percent when used individually or together.
The rules go into effect for products put on shelves after April 16, 2015.
The commission also banned the mixture of Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI) from leave-on products, such as body creams, to help reduce risk from and incidence of skin allergies, it said. The combination can still be used in rinse-off products at a maximum concentration of 0.0015 percent of a mixture in the ration of three-to-one of MCI/MI. The measure applies for products put on the market after July 16, 2015.
“Preservatives in cosmetics serve a valuable function ensuring that the products we use on a daily basis are free from pathogens. We need, however, to ensure that the preservatives guarantee the maximum degree of protection. With these measures, consumers can be reassured that their cosmetics are safe,” said Neven Mimica, the European commissioner for consumer policy, in a statement.
Earlier this year, the Commission banned the use of five other parabens in cosmetics products, due to lack of data necessary for reassessment.