On May 8, 2023, EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) published the updated scientific advice on the use of HC Blue 18 in cosmetics.¹ Compared to the previous opinion, the latest one adequately quantifies the impurities in HC Blue 18, and fully assesses the detected impurity's potential genotoxic property.

HC Blue 18 (CAS No. 1166834-57-6 / 852356-91-3) is commonly used in oxidative and non-oxidative hair dye products. To guide its safe use in cosmetics, in December 2015, SCCS released the opinion SCCS/1560/15. In this opinion, HC Blue 18 is categorized as a moderate sensitizer, and considered safe when used as a hair coloring agent at on-head concentration up to 0.35% in non-oxidative and oxidative hair dye products.

Later in 2022, SCCS received additional information about the impurities of HC Blue 18, with a request to assess this ingredient's safety in view of the newly provided information. In response, SCCS conducted another safety assessment and compiled this updated opinion. Based on the latest assessment results, SCCS reiterates the conclusion stated in SCCS/1560/15. Additionally, SCCS supplemented that only impurity 3B was detected at 575 nm in the test substance, and the assessment results indicated no genotoxic concern about it.

Further Reading

• Cosmetics Regulation Focus: What Are the Impacts of the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability?
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• EU SCCS Finalizes the Opinion as to Hydroxyapatite (nano)

Reference Links

[1] SCCS - Scientific Advice on HC Blue 18 (Colipa No. B122) - Submission II

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