Banned substances identified in cosmetics – what consumers need to know
Check What You Buy! Choose Cosmetics Wisely with InfoCons!
As part of the campaign “Check What You Buy! Choose Cosmetics Wisely!”, InfoCons works to inform and educate consumers about the risks associated with the use of non-compliant cosmetic products, by promoting accurate, science-based information supported by the expertise of specialists in the field of health.
One of the most important aspects is banned substances – ingredients that European legislation prohibits entirely in cosmetic products. Their presence in a product is not a mere administrative irregularity, but a real risk to the consumer’s health.
The European legal framework
In the European Union, cosmetic products are governed by Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. It sets out clear lists of substances, grouped into annexes. Annex II contains prohibited substances – in the consolidated version, more than 1,600 substances that may not be used in any cosmetic product. Annex III contains restricted substances, allowed only within certain concentrations, for certain product types and often with mandatory label warnings (several hundred entries). Annexes IV–VI additionally regulate the permitted colourants, preservatives and UV filters.
[premium]The scientific safety assessment of ingredients is carried out by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS), an independent body of the European Commission. Based on its opinions, the list of banned or restricted substances is updated regularly.
What European data shows
Year after year, cosmetics are among the most frequently flagged dangerous products on the European market. According to the European Commission’s report on the European rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products, 4,137 alerts were notified in 2024 – the highest number recorded since the system was launched in 2003.
Cosmetics were the most frequently notified category, accounting for 36% of all alerts, followed by toys (15%), electrical appliances (10%), motor vehicles (9%) and chemical products (6%). Chemical risks accounted for almost half of all alerts (49%).
A single ingredient explains a large share of these notifications: 97% of the flagged cosmetics contained Butylphenyl Methylpropional (BMHCA, also known as “Lilial”), a fragrance substance completely banned in the European Union since 1 March 2022 due to its effects on the reproductive system and the risk of skin irritation. In Romania, cosmetics accounted for 53% of reported alerts – more than half of the total.
The online risk
Online commerce increases consumers’ exposure to non-compliant products, often from unregistered sellers. In 2024, the European Commission analysed 1.6 million web pages and identified more than 5,300 potentially non-compliant online shops. Since December 2024, the new General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) has applied, strengthening safety rules, including for online sales.
What consumers need to know
– Any cosmetic product lawfully sold in the EU carries the full ingredient list (INCI) on its packaging; the absence of this list is a warning sign.
– Unusually low prices, packaging with spelling errors, missing manufacturer or importer details, or an origin outside the EU may indicate non-compliant or counterfeit products.
– Consumers can check notifications about dangerous products directly in the InfoCons App, in the alerts section, before or after a purchase.
Conclusion
Knowing what a banned substance is and how to recognise a suspicious product is the first step towards safe choices. Through the campaign “Check What You Buy! Choose Cosmetics Wisely!”, InfoCons encourages every consumer to read the label, check the source of the product and report suspicious products.
European alerts on non-compliant products can be consulted directly in the InfoCons App.
Official sources: Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products; European Commission – Annual report on the European rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products (2024); Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS).
Signed: InfoCons Consumer Protection – Communication Department
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