China’s NMPA Updates its Inventory of Existing Cosmetic Ingredients
On 24th June 2025, the Chinese National Medicinal Products Association (NMPA) announced changes to the IECIC (Inventory of Cosmetic Ingredients in China). The Inventory is now separated into two tiers: IECIC I and IECIC II. IECIC I includes the original substance list from 2021, with some improvements. IECIC II includes NCIs (New Cosmetic Ingredients) whose three-year monitoring period has successfully elapsed. Two substances have been included on the IECIC II.
You may access the NMPA IECIC Portal here.
China’s NIFDC Publishes Nine Cosmetic Standards for Comment
On 24th June 2025 China’s NIFDC released a Notice soliciting opinions on nine draft cosmetic standards, including the General Principles of Physical and Chemical Testing Methods.
You may read the notice and find all nine Draft Standards here.
South Korea’s MFDS Amends Enforcement Regulations of the Cosmetics Act
The Cosmetics Act was previously amended on 1st April 2025 to provide a basis for requesting onsite data for cosmetics purchased directly from overseas. The Enforcement Regulations of the Cosmetics Act are now amended to establish methods regarding the provision of this data, with a Notice published by the MFDS (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) on 19th June 2025.
You may read the NMPA Notice here.
EU SCCS Publishes Opinions for Five Substances
Benzophenone-2 (CAS 131-55-5) and Benzophenone-5 (CAS 6628-37-1)
SCCS could not conclude on the safety of Benzophenone-2 as genotoxicity potential could not be excluded. Repeated dose toxicity and reproductive toxicity data was limited or not available. The available evidence identified Benzophenone-2 as an endocrine-active substance with estrogenic activity demonstrated in vitro and in vivo.
Data for Benzophenone-5 was said to be scarce, therefore Benzophenone-4 was used for read-across. Therefore, the SCCS found Benzophenone-5 to be safe as a UV filter up to a maximum concentration of 5% in sunscreen, face and hand cream, lipstick, sunscreen propellant spray and pump spray, when used separately or in combination (based on deterministic aggregated exposure of BP-4).
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, ‘DHHB’ (CAS 302776-68-7)
Considering the presence of DnHexP (di-n-hexyl phthalate) as a contaminant in the production of Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) used as a UV-filter in cosmetic products, the SCCS calculated a maximum safe level of 0.026% (260 ppm) for this impurity in the UV filter DHHB. This applies when DHHB is used up to 10% in cosmetic products and only if DnHexP is an unavoidable impurity. The Committee also concluded 1 ppm as an achieveable target trace level for DnHexP as an impurity in DHHB.
Hydroxyapatite (Nano) (CAS 1306-06-5)
Hydroxyapatite (nano) is considered safe when used at concentrations up to 29.5% in toothpaste, and up to 10% in mouthwash. This applies only to hydroxyapatite (nano) with the following characteristics:
- Composed of rod-shaped particles of which at least 87% (in particle number) have aspect ratios equal to or less than 3, and the remaining 13% have aspect ratios not exceeding 9.
- The particles are not coated or surface modified.
- The Opinion is related to particles with max length of the HAP nanoparticles inthe present Opinion, i.e. 122 ± 43 nm.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate (CAS 5466-77-3/83834-59-7)
The SCCS concludes that Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is safe up to a maximum concentration of 10% in sunscreen lotion, face and hand cream, lipstick, sunscreen propellant spray and pump spray, when used separately or in combination. The Committee is of the opinion that such products are safe for children due to the high Margin of Safety.
