Cosmetic regulation moves constantly: annexes are amended, thresholds are lowered, and the EU and GB rulebooks continue to drift apart. This digest records the developments that matter, in plain terms: what changed, who it affects, and what to do. It is maintained by the same team that prepares our safety assessments.
Last updated: 17 August 2026
EU
Draft EU amendment notified: Omnibus Ingredients III and Omnibus CMR IX combined
The European Commission has notified the WTO of a draft Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, combining recent SCCS opinions (Omnibus Ingredients III) with the next round of CMR-related prohibitions (Omnibus CMR IX). The draft would prohibit Benzophenone-1, Benzophenone-2, Basic Brown 16, Basic Blue 99, prostaglandins and their analogues, and the mercury-containing preservatives Thimerosal and phenylmercuric salts, and would introduce new restrictions for CBD and BHA alongside updated conditions for Hydroxyapatite (nano), Propylparaben and Butylparaben. Adoption is currently expected in Q4 2026, with the CMR-related prohibitions applying from 1 February 2027. Brands with affected ingredients should begin reformulation planning now rather than waiting for adoption: the direction of travel is settled even where the final text is not.
EU
Regulation (EU) 2026/909 in force: four annexes amended on SCCS opinions
In the EU, Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/909, published on 28 April 2026, has taken effect, amending the prohibited, restricted, preservative and UV filter annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Notable changes include a prohibition on Triphenyl Phosphate affecting nail products, new product-specific concentration limits for aluminium compounds across antiperspirants, toothpaste, make-up and hair products, and a 10 ppm impurity limit for DnHexP in the UV filter DHHB. For most affected substances, products placed on the market must comply from 1 January 2027, and non-compliant products must be off the market by 1 July 2028. Formulations containing the affected ingredients should be checked against the new limits and the PIF updated to record the assessment.
EU
Omnibus VIII applies: silver regulated by particle size, Hexyl Salicylate restricted
In the EU, Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/78 (Omnibus VIII), published on 13 January 2026, applies from 1 May 2026, aligning the Cosmetics Regulation with the CMR classifications of the 22nd ATP to CLP. Silver is now regulated by particle size: nano silver and bulk silver are prohibited, while micrometre-range silver powder remains permitted within strict limits, 0.05% in toothpaste and mouthwash and 0.2% as a colorant in lip products and eye shadow. Hexyl Salicylate, reclassified as CMR Category 2, moves to Annex III with defined concentration limits following SCCS/1668/24. Children’s products are particularly affected, and there is no explicit sell-through provision, so stock in the supply chain needs review, not just new production.
GB
GB amendment SI 2026/23: 4-MBC banned, formaldehyde-releaser threshold lowered
In Great Britain, the 2026 amendment to the UK Cosmetics Regulation (SI 2026/23) prohibits the UV filter 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor, restricts sixteen further CMR substances, and lowers the labelling threshold for formaldehyde-releasing preservatives. The GB annexes now diverge from the EU annexes in substance rather than administration: a formulation compliant on one side of the divergence is no longer automatically compliant on the other. Dual-market brands should have both annex positions checked in the same assessment, and Northern Ireland continues to follow the EU regime under the Windsor Framework.
GB
UK Responsible Person details now required on GB labels
In Great Britain, cosmetic products placed on the market must now carry the UK Responsible Person’s name and address on the label, ending the post-Brexit easement that allowed an EU address to remain on GB packs. Artwork that still shows only an EU Responsible Person needs updating for GB stock, and brands selling across the whole UK should note that Northern Ireland packs continue to carry EU Responsible Person details under the EU regime. Where we act as your UK Responsible Person, our details appear on your GB labels; label reviews against Article 19 are available as a standalone engagement.
Unsure how a change affects your products? Our assessments flag exactly where a formulation stands against both the EU and GB annexes.
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