HEAL considers that a focus on reducing administrative cost and burden to businesses is a shortsighted and narrow perspective, disregarding the significant costs to people's health and the need for strengthened resilience of the natural environment in view of pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss.
The proposal currently under discussion in the European Parliament as part of the EU’s Chemicals Omnibus would weaken long-standing protections against carcinogenic substances in cosmetics and personal care products. Most concerningly, the European Parliament’s draft report proposes to allow substances newly classified as carcinogenic to remain on the market for up to 6.5 years, far longer than the current 18-month limit, exposing consumers for years after their risks are recognised.
This deregulation drive is fundamentally to the detriment of consumers and their health,” states Sandra Jen, Programme Lead for Health and Chemicals at HEAL. “Europe’s cosmetics rules have protected consumers from cancer-causing chemicals for over 20 years. Weakening them now would prolong exposure to known carcinogens and other harmful chemicals, and reverse decades of progress.”
A new briefing, ”With omnibus VI, the EU is putting people’s health at risk. No toxics in our cosmetics!” by HEAL member Générations Futures, highlights the scale of everyday exposure in France. Women use an average of 16 cosmetic products daily, pregnant women 18, and children under three around six. The briefing warns that extended transition periods and restrictive definitions of “suitable alternatives” could leave carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic substances on the market for nearly a decade after their classification has been initiated.
The European Parliament’s draft report undermines health protection from all these chemicals, by limiting restrictions to certain products, despite the fact that unintended exposure through inhalation or ingestion is relevant for many cosmetics, such as powders or creams, particularly for children.
Broad exemptions for carcinogens that occur as constituents of plant-based complex substances, such as essential oils, would further prolong avoidable exposure. A carcinogen remains a carcinogen, regardless of whether it is natural or synthetic.
While industry points to the costs of reformulation, delayed action would shift far greater costs onto society, as cancer incidence rises and healthcare expenditure continues to grow. Strong, predictable rules have historically driven safer innovation and remain essential for both public health and the competitiveness of European companies producing safer cosmetic products.
The draft proposal will be discussed by the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) and the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) on 29 January, followed by a second discussion in February and a joint Committee vote expected in March, before moving to the plenary later in the year.
HEAL therefore calls on the European Parliament to uphold the principle of a high level of protection: no deregulation on carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxic substances in cosmetics, no loopholes, and no delays.
Notes
More information on the Générations Futures briefing (in French): Des toxiques dans les cosmétiques : le nouveau rapport exclusif de Générations Futures.
