Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/909 was published on 27 April 2026 and introduces several amendments to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products. The changes affect Annexes II, III, V and VI and include new substance restrictions, concentration limits and permitted uses.
A new entry (No. 1752) was added to Annex II, banning the use of Triphenyl Phosphate in cosmetic products. The substance is used as a plasticizer in nail products, including nail polish, nail enamel and manicure preparations. Following its assessment, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) concluded that a potential genotoxic risk could not be excluded based on the available data.
Amendments to Annex III (Restricted Substances)
The following amendments in Annex III are introduced:
- Zinc Citrate and Zinc Sulphate were added to entry No. 24. New maximum concentration limits ranging from 0.1% to 1% apply, depending on product type and conditions of use.
- Revised concentration limits were introduced for:
o Citral, Geranial and Neral (entry No. 70), with limits ranging from 0.063% to 1.2% depending on product category.
o Benzyl Salicylate (entry No. 75), with limits ranging from 0.004% to 4% depending on product category. - Furthermore, 6 new entries were added to Annex III:
• No. 379: Aluminium-containing ingredients, except those already covered under existing entries.
• No. 380: Acetylated Vetiveria Zizanioides Root Extract/Oil
• No. 381: HC Blue No. 18 (hair dye products)
• No. 382: Hydroxypropyl-p-phenylenediamine
• No. 383: HC Yellow No. 16 (hair dye products)
• No. 384: HC Red No. 18 (hair dye products)
Amendments to Annex V (Preservatives)
A new preservative entry (No. 61) has been added for Ammonium Silver Zinc Aluminium Silicate, which is permitted for use in deodorant sprays and powder foundations under the conditions set out in the Regulation.
Amendments to Annex VI (UV Filters)
Entry No. 28 has been amended for Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate. A maximum limit of 10 ppm has been introduced for the unavoidable trace impurity Di-n-hexyl phthalate (DnHexP).
Transitional Periods
Non-compliant cosmetic products may not be placed on the Union market from 1 January 2027 or made available on the Union market from 1 July/August 2028.
Companies should review affected formulations and products to ensure compliance within the applicable transition periods.
For many skin care products, the newly introduced 0.15% concentration limit for Citral may be particularly relevant. For products containing essential oils or extracts derived from lemon peel, lime, lemongrass or other sources with natural Citral content, the total amount of Citral should be carefully reviewed.
The new restriction applies to the Citral content in the finished cosmetic product, regardless of whether it was intentionally added or derived from natural sources. Prior to the new amendment, Citral was regulated in Annex III as a fragrance allergen subject to additional declaration when exceeding the 0.01% (rinse-off product) or 0.001% (leave-on product) threshold. However, prior to the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2026/909, Citral was not subject to a general maximum concentration limit in cosmetic products and was regulated solely as a fragrance allergen requiring declaration above specified thresholds.