Restriction of D4 and D5 in Personal Care Products

Restriction

Restriction of D4 and D5 in Personal Care Products

Little Pro on 2017-09-15

Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) have been added to REACH annex XVII restricted substances list (entry 70) by COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2018/35 on 10 Jan 2018. D4 and D5 shall not be placed on the market in wash-off cosmetic products in a concentration equal to or greater than 0,1 % by weight of either substance, after 31 January 2020.

Substance	Conditions of Restriction
Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane EC number: 209-136-7, CAS number: 556-67-2 Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane EC number: 208-746-9, CAS number: 541-02-6	1. Shall not be placed on the market in wash-off cosmetic products in a concentration equal to or greater than 0,1 % by weight of either substance, after 31 January 2020. 2. For the purposes of this entry, “wash-off cosmetic products” means cosmetic products as defined in Article 2(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 that, under normal conditions of use, are washed off with water after application.’

Why Are D4 and D5 Restricted?

D4 and D5 are cyclosiloxanes mainly used as monomers for silicone polymer production. They also have a direct use in personal care products. D4 has been identified as a persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) and very persistent very bioaccumulative (vPvB) substance. D5 has been identified as a vPvB substance.

Due to concerns that D4 and D5 may have the potential to accumulate in the environment and cause effects that are unpredictable and irreversible in the long-term, ECHA’s Risk Assessment (RAC) and Socio Economic Assessment (SEAC) Committees agreed with the UK’s proposal to restrict D4 and D5 in wash-off personal care products in June 2016 since they may go down the drain and enter lakes, rivers, and oceans.

Restricted Use of D4 and D5 in Other Products?

So far D4 and D5 are not restricted in other products. ECHA is working on an additional proposal to restrict D4 and D5 in leave on personal care products and other consumer/professional products (e.g. dry cleaning, waxes and polishes, washing and cleaning products). The proposal will be submitted for approval in April 2018. Industry has expressed strong objections to this additional restriction.

In March 2018, ECHA has also proposed to add D4 and D5 to SVHC list.

Reference

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