SCCS Issued Scientific Advice on the Safety of Triclocarban and Triclosan as Substances with Potential Endocrine Disrupting Properties

On November 4, 2022, the European Union Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) issued scientific advice on the safety of triclocarban and triclosan as substances with potential endocrine-disrupting properties, clarifying the safety of their use in cosmetics. The safety assessment was carried out based on all available information, including potential endocrine impacts, with the following conclusions:

Trichlorocarban (the conclusion is not applicable to baby wipes)

• The use of triclocarban as a preservative in dermally applied cosmetic products is safe up to a maximum concentration of 0.2% for both children (0.5-18 years) and adults when used individually or in combination.
• In addition to the preservative function, the use of triclocarban is also safe up to a maximum concentration of 1.5% in rinse-off products when used individually or in combination for both children (0.5-18 years) and adults.
• However, the use of triclocarban to a maximum concentration of 0.2% in mouthwash is not safe for adults and children. And its use in toothpaste is not safe for children under six years old.

Triclosan

• The use of triclosan as a preservative at the concentrations reported in entry 25 of Annex V (0.3%) in dermally applied cosmetic products is safe except for body lotions when used individually or in combination, for both adults and children (0.5-18 years).
• The use of triclosan as a preservative in toothpaste is safe at the concentration of 0.3% when used individually for both adults and children (0.5-18 years) but it is not safe when used in combination for children under three years old.
• For adults, the use of triclosan as a preservative in mouthwash is safe at a concentration of 0.2% when used individually but not when used in combination. For children and adolescents, it is not safe at 0.2%, even when used individually.

The SCCS is not aware of the use of triclocarban and triclosan together in a single product, and, therefore, this has not been assessed.

CIRS Group has launched a Chinese Cosmetic Ingredient Regulatory Database (China CosIng) that allows domestic and overseas cosmetic companies and ingredient suppliers to quickly search whether a cosmetic ingredient or substance is listed in the cosmetic catalogs.

If you would like to know more information about triclocarban and triclosan, please search the China CosIng Database.

If you need any assistance or have any questions, please get in touch with us via service@cirs-group.com.

Further Information

SCCS/1643/22