Some preservatives have been recently prohibited in cosmetic products to be made available on the European Union market. An example is Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and the combination Methylchloroisothiazolinone / Methylisothiazolinone (MCIT/MIT), which have been banned in leave-on cosmetic products.
Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) is a particularly effective biocide, which is often used on its own or in a 1:3 ratio with Methylchloroisothiazolinone. While their preservative efficacy remains undisputed, their effects on the human body following their use on leave-on cosmetic products cannot deemed safe due to a rising trend in allergic reactions to these substances.
The European Commission has published multiple documents on these preservatives, debating the safety of their use. The most recent public consultation on Methylisothiazolinone in the framework of the Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 took place in 2015 and highlighted the difference between its use in leave-on and rinse-off cosmetic products. Leave-on products are those intended to stay in contact with the skin, hair or nails for a certain period of time. Examples are make-up products, face creams, hair styling products, etc. Rinse-off products, such as shampoos and conditioners, are applied and thoroughly removed shortly thereafter.
As of 16th April 2016, leave-on cosmetic products containing the combination Methylchloroisothiazolinone / Methylisothiazolinone (MCIT/MIT) have been banned from the European market. As of 12th February 2017, the preservative Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) used alone was also banned in leave-on cosmetic products. Despite the ban, non-compliant leave-on products containing them are consistently being intercepted in inspections and border controls.
Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns about your products’ compliance with the EU-wide ban of Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and its combination Methylchloroisothiazolinone / Methylisothiazolinone (MCIT/MIT) in leave-on cosmetic products – our regulatory experts will gladly verify your products and ensure their EU compliance.