Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) - Final version of the opinion on Phenoxyethanol in cosmetic products

Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2016 Dec:82:156. doi: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2016.11.007. Epub 2016 Nov 4.

Abstract

The SCCS considers 2-phenoxyethanol safe for use as a preservative with a maximum concentration of 1.0%, taking into account the information provided. The toxicokinetics default factor of 4.0 can be reduced to 1.0 yielding a minimum Margin of Safety (MoS) of 25 instead of 100 for the safety assessment of 2-phenoxyethanol. Therefore, the MoS of about 50 for children also covers this specific age group who might be higher exposed to 2-phenoxyethanol than adults. This Opinion does not take into account exposure from sources other than cosmetics.

Keywords: CAS no. 122-99-6; EC no. 204-589-7; Phenoxyethanol; Regulation 1223/2009; SCCS; Scientific opinion.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Child, Preschool
  • Consumer Product Safety*
  • Cosmetics / adverse effects*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Ethylene Glycols / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Preservatives, Pharmaceutical / adverse effects*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Toxicity Tests / methods*
  • Toxicokinetics

Substances

  • Cosmetics
  • Ethylene Glycols
  • Preservatives, Pharmaceutical
  • phenoxyethanol