SCCS rules on more hair dye ingredients

The European Commission's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has published opinions on 3-amino-2,6-dimethylphenol; hydroxyethoxy aminopyrazolopyridine HCl; and Basic Brown 17.

The SCCS has found that all three hair dye ingredients are safe for consumer use when used in a maximum concentration of 2%.

The first submission of the substance 3-amino-2,6-dimethylphenol A162 was received in July 2013 by Cosmetics Europe. It has since been called for safety evaluation in regards to being used in hair dye formulations at an on-head concentration of up to 2.0%.

The present submission for Hydroxyethoxy aminopyrazolopyridine HCl used in hair dye formulations is also at a concentration of up to 2.0% in finished cosmetic products, however the SCCS was also asked to look into the substance's applicability in oxidative hair dye formulations.

Finally, the safety of Basic Brown 17 (B007), has been looked into several times. The first scientific opinion was adopted back in December 2004, the second in 2008 and the third in June 2012. 

The last opinion concluded that the information was insufficient to allow a final risk and that a proper chemical specification with respect to its purity and impurities; data on its' stability in test solutions and in typical hair dye formulations needed to be submitted.

They also ruled on zinc pyrithione..

The Committee also ruled on cosmetic ingredient, zinc pyrithione, introduced into the Cosmetics Directive as a preservative by Directive 82/368/EEC.

It is currently permitted in rinse-off products at a maximum concentration of 0.5%.  

However, the SCCS has now ruled the substance is also safe for use as an anti-dandruff agent in rinse-off hair care products, when used in a concentration up to 2.0% but recommends “thorough post-marketing surveillance of the product”, as the substance is highly toxic.

Hair dye ingredients frequently under SCCS opinion 

Back in December, the European Commission announced its decision to amend Annex III of the cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament in its Official Journal. 

The amendments were further efforts to control the potential risks of hair dye substances.

Substances highlighted included Aminophenyl imino]bis(ethanol) sulphate and 1,3-Benzenediol, 4-chloro- hair dye substances in oxidative hair dye products.

In regards to these substances, the EC advises that they be mixed under oxidative conditions and applied to the hair at a maximum concentration of 2.5%.

With regards to substances like '2,4,5,6-Tetraaminopyrimidine sulphate' the maximum concentration has been granted at a higher concentration of 3.4%.