EU Parliament Backs Council on Cautious Stance for CMRs and Nanomaterials in Cosmetics
The EU Parliament's ENVI Committee adopted a cautious report on the Chemicals Omnibus VI, aligning with the Council against the Commission's proposal to simplify CMR and nanomaterial use in cosmetics. The report maintains a full ban on CMRs, rejecting adaptations based on exposure routes, and reintroduces nanomaterial notification. It strengthens derogation conditions for Natural Complex Substances and allows limited flexibilities, marking a significant pushback against regulatory simplification efforts, with a plenary vote scheduled for April 29.
The European Parliament's ENVI Committee recently adopted its report on the Chemicals Omnibus VI, signaling a cautious approach to the regulation of carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic substances (CMRs) and nanomaterials in cosmetic products. This move aligns the Parliament closely with the Council's position, notably rejecting several simplification proposals put forward by the European Commission in July 2025.Central to the debate is the Commission's initial intent to integrate adaptations for CMR use based on exposure routes, which the Parliament, in line with the Council, has entirely rejected, opting for a full and automatic ban on all CMRs. While derogations for CMR 1A or 1B substances remain possible, the adopted compromise text emphasizes their exceptional nature and retains the Commission's discretion in granting them. Limited flexibilities, such as an additional 12-month period for companies to use substances under derogation, are also maintained.Furthermore, the committee's amendments strengthen the conditions for derogations concerning Natural Complex Substances (NCS), mandating a prompt opinion from the SCCS (Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety) within 12-18 months. Crucially, on nanomaterials, the Parliament reintroduces a notification obligation that the Commission had intended to withdraw. This united front by Member States and major Parliament groups against the Commission's proposed simplifications is noteworthy. The report is slated for a plenary vote on April 29, which will establish the Parliament's negotiating position for upcoming trilogue discussions with the Council and Commission.
