The European Commission has notified the World Trade Organisation of upcoming regulatory changes affecting key ingredients in cosmetics.

The European Commission plans to authorize the use of potassium hydroxide for certain uses. Potassium hydroxide is used to control the pH of cosmetics and personal care products.  

It proposes to authorise the use of nail product ingredient trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide (TPO) for professional use.

The use of diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (DEGEE) will be restricted. DEGREE is a solvent used in skin care formulations and prescription products such as acne creams. It has been widely used for its ability to modify the skin delivery of actives in cosmetics formulations.

The European Commission also plans to remove quaternium-15 from the Regulation’s Annex V list of authorised preservatives, because of an automatic ban since 2010 prohibiting the compound in cosmetic products. Quaternium-15 is used as a surfactant and preservative in many cosmetics and industrial substances.

The amendments are scheduled to be adopted in the fourth quarter of the year. Comments will be accepted by the WTO until 8 August.