New SCCS Opinions on Cosmetic Ingredients

The EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, or SCCS, put out six new documents between November 14 and November 20, 2025, after its plenary meeting on October 30. One big one is the final opinion on tea tree oil, which came after the European Chemicals Agency’s RAC classified tea tree oil as Repr. 1B under the CLP Regulation in 2023. Because that could have triggered a ban under Article 15(2)(d) of the EU Cosmetics Regulation, the SCCS was asked to check if tea tree oil can still be used in cosmetics. The final opinion basically backs what the preliminary opinion from June 2025 said. It says tea tree oil is safe in cosmetics up to certain limits: up to 2.0% in shampoo, 1.0% in shower gel, 1.0% in face wash, and only 0.1% in face cream. It’s only for tea tree oil with a chemical makeup that matches the ISO 4730:2017 standard and only for adults. Also, no spray or aerosol forms that could make people breathe it in.

Scientific Advice on BHA

A preliminary SCCS opinion on BHA (currently unregulated under the Cosmetics Regulation) concludes it is safe up to 0.07% in leave-on and rinse-off products, for dermal use only. It does not cover oral or inhalation exposure and is open for comments until 19 January 2026.

Basic Brown 16 & Basic Blue 99

The SCCS evaluated two hair dyes, Basic Brown 16 (CAS No. 26381-41-9) and Basic Blue 99 (CAS No. 68123-13-7), and it does not consider either of them safe for use in non-oxidative hair dye formulas. The evidence shows potential mutagenic and genotoxic effects. Currently, neither one of these is on the positive list of allowed hair dyes in Annex III. The advice documents about both hair dyes are open for comments until January 19, 2026.

CBD Preliminary Opinion

Cannabidiol, or CBD, isn’t currently regulated under the EU Cosmetics Regulation either. But Annex II’s entry 306 prohibits “narcotics, natural and synthetic” listed in the 1961 UN Single Convention in cosmetics. In a 2020 case (C-663/18), the Court of Justice of the EU said that the CBD in question should not be treated as a narcotic. Still, the Court said that health-protective restri

ctions might be justified if they don’t go beyond what’s necessary. Because more cosmetic products now have CBD, the SCCS has been looking at the safety of CBD and the possible presence of other cannabinoids like THC. The SCCS’s preliminary opinion, open for comments until January 21, 2026, says CBD is safe up to 0.19% in dermal and oral cosmetics, whether used alone or together. It also says THC impurities are safe up to 0.00025% in dermal and oral cosmetics, whether alone or in combination. This opinion does not cover products that could lead to inhalation exposure.

Mercury Preservatives Advice

Finally, the SCCS issued an opinion on thiomersal and phenylmercuric salts (including borate). Although these mercury compounds are currently permitted as preservatives under Annex V (despite a general ban in Annex II), the SCCS concludes they are not safe at the allowed concentrations. The draft opinion is open for comments until 21 January 2026 and notes that overall health risks may increase due to additional mercury exposure from non-cosmetic sources.