EU restricts 11 cosmetic ingredients effective immediately
The European Commission updated cosmetics regulations on April 27, 2026, restricting the use of 11 chemical ingredients in cosmetic products sold in the EU. The banned and restricted substances include Benzyl Salicylate, Triphenyl Phosphate, Ammonium Silver Zinc Aluminium Silicate, Aluminium, water-soluble zinc salts, Acetylated Vetiver Oil, Citral, HC Blue No 18, HC Red No 18, HC Yellow No 16, Hydroxypropyl-p-phenylenediamine and its dihydrochloride salt, and DHHB. This amendment to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 affects cosmetics manufacturers and exporters shipping beauty and personal care products to EU markets.
Photo: www.kaboompics.com / Pexels# EU Restricts 11 Cosmetic Ingredients in Updated Safety Rules
The European Commission issued Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/909 on April 27, 2026, amending the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 to restrict or ban eleven chemical ingredients used in cosmetic formulations. The update reflects the EU's ongoing safety review of substances used in beauty and personal care products.
Restricted Ingredients
The regulation affects the following substances:
- Benzyl Salicylate
- Triphenyl Phosphate
- Ammonium Silver Zinc Aluminium Silicate
- Aluminium
- Water-soluble zinc salts
- Acetylated Vetiver Oil
- Citral
- HC Blue No 18
- HC Red No 18
- HC Yellow No 16
- Hydroxypropyl-p-phenylenediamine and its dihydrochloride salt
- DHHB
These ingredients are commonly found in hair dyes, colorants, fragrances, and other cosmetic formulations. Manufacturers may face restrictions on concentration limits, labeling requirements, or complete prohibitions depending on the substance and product category.
Who Is Affected
This regulation impacts:
- Cosmetics manufacturers producing hair dyes, colorants, fragrances, and personal care products
- E-commerce merchants importing finished cosmetics into the EU
- Contract manufacturers and suppliers using these chemicals in formulations
- Exporters shipping cosmetics to EU-based distributors and retailers
Any company placing cosmetic products on the EU market must ensure compliance with these new restrictions. Products already in distribution may require reformulation or relabeling.
Compliance Timeline
While the regulation was published April 27, 2026, manufacturers should verify specific implementation dates and transition periods that may apply to existing stock or products in the supply chain.
What this means for shippers
Cosmetics shipments to the EU now require verification that formulations comply with these ingredient restrictions. Before generating customs invoices or estimating landed costs for beauty and personal care products, confirm your ingredients meet current EU standards. Non-compliant products may face delays, detention, or forced destruction at the border. Review your product formulations and supplier documentation to ensure compliance—use our HS code tool to verify proper classification of cosmetic products entering EU markets.
