UK regulator OPSS calls for data on nanomaterials in cosmetics

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is calling for data relevant to the safety assessment of nanomaterials used in cosmetics.

It is inviting interested parties, including academia, manufacturers of cosmetic products and raw materials, and consumer associations to submit any scientific information relevant to the safety assessment of various nanomaterials or surface functionalised variants used in cosmetics.

The nanomaterials include platinum, copper, silver, colloidal silver, gold, colloidal gold, gold thioethylamino hyaluronic acid, silica, hydrated silica, silica silylate, silica dimethyl silylate, lithium magnesium sodium silicate and hydroxyapatite.

The deadline for silica, hydrated silica, silica silylate and silica dimethyl silylate is 27 June 2025. All other substances have a deadline of 22 December 2023.

Interested parties are required to submit original study reports and literature in full for all data relied upon in the safety assessment.

After the review is completed, the OPSS will take the necessary action to ensure the safety of consumers, including but not limited to "prohibiting or restricting specific ingredients if a risk to human health is identified".

In cosmetic products, "nanomaterial" refers to an insoluble or biopersistent and intentionally manufactured material, which has one or more external dimensions, or an internal structure, on the scale from 1 to 100 nm.

Article 16 of the UK Cosmetics Regulation requires that cosmetic products containing nanomaterials must be notified to the Secretary of State at least six months prior to being placed on the market.