SCCS/1613/19

In October 2012, the Commission received, from Cosmetics Europe (The Personal Care Association, European Association of the Cosmetics Industry), a "Scientific Paper Discussing Systemic Exposure to Aluminum via its Dermal Soluble Salts."

Specifically, Cosmetics Europe's contribution had focused on:

  • Water-soluble ingredients containing Aluminum comprising: Simple inorganic salts; Simple organic salts; Aluminium benzoate; Chlorohydrates; all used in skin care products.
  • Non-water soluble Aluminum-containing ingredients including: Minerals; Crystals and Clays; colloidal Aluminum dyes; Carbohydrates and Fatty acid salts.

In June 2013, the Commission received a dossier called "Risk Assessment of Aluminium Exposure through Food and Cosmetic Use in the Norwegian Population" from the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety. The purpose of the risk assessment by Norway was to demonstrate that cosmetic products, and in particular antiperspirants, could contribute significantly more than diet to total systemic exposure to aluminum in people using these products.

On March 4, 2020, the final SCCS opinion on the use of aluminum in cosmetic products was published;

SCCS, following the toxicological study of the ingredient, defines safe the use of the same under the following conditions:

  • 25% in deodorant and antiperspirant formulations other than spary
  • 60% in deodorant and antiperspirant spray formulations
  • 65% in toothpastes
  • 77% in lipsticks

SSCS concludes by stating that systemic exposure to aluminum also comes from sources other than cosmetic products, such as diet, which is the largest source of exposure.