EU Cosmetics Regulation Undergoes Major Revision, Set to Take Effect in 2026 and Reshape Industry Compliance Landscape

Driven by advances in science and technology, the latest opinions from the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS), and heightened market transparency demands, the EU cosmetic regulatory framework is undergoing rapid transformation. While Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009—the cornerstone of this regulatory system—continues to establish stringent standards for safety, labeling, notification, and ingredient control, a series of significant amendments recently introduced by the European Commission will directly impact cosmetic manufacturers, laboratories, and responsible persons.

These amendments, grounded in the SCCS's latest scientific opinions and aligned with the EU's Classification, Labelling, and Packaging Regulation (CLP Regulation, EC No 1272/2008), introduce new ingredient prohibitions, usage restrictions, and application conditions. The European Commission has proposed comprehensive amendments to the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, expected to take effect in the first quarter of 2026. This fully reflects the EU's regulatory commitment to upholding the precautionary principle and continuously updating scientific evidence on ingredient safety within the cosmetics sector.

Regarding specific amendments, the new regulations introduce significant adjustments to the list of cosmetic ingredients. Regulation (EU) 2025/877, published in May 2025, has already amended Annexes II and III, adding 21 prohibited chemicals including dimethyl phosphonic acid and adjusting the classification of certain substances. Regulation (EU) 2025/877, published in May 2025, has already revised Annexes II and III. It adds 21 prohibited chemicals, including dimethyl phosphonic acid, and adjusts the regulatory categories for substances such as trimethylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide. This revision became effective on September 1, 2025. Concurrently, aligning with updated CLP Regulation requirements, cosmetic labeling standards have been further tightened. Specific format standards for hazard pictograms, signal words, and hazard statements have been clarified, while digital labeling options were introduced for the first time. Companies may now provide ingredient and safety information via compliant digital carriers, provided the information remains traceable and freely accessible.

Addressing the industry's high concern over the management of carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic (CMR) substances, the revision proposal establishes clearer regulatory mechanisms. These include setting exemption application deadlines, establishing transition periods, simplifying exemption criteria, and clarifying classification rules for naturally complex ingredients to avoid overregulation. Additionally, the notification process for nanomaterials has been optimized. Companies no longer need to submit separate notifications six months in advance; relevant information can now be integrated into the Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR), significantly reducing administrative burdens.

The regulatory revisions present multiple technical challenges for the industry: Companies must re-screen product formulations to ensure compliance with newly added prohibited and restricted ingredients. Label design must simultaneously meet the requirements for paper labels and the technical standards for digital labels, with multilingual adaptation becoming essential. Compliance assessment processes for CMR substances and nanomaterials must be upgraded simultaneously. Industry experts recommend that companies establish dynamic compliance monitoring mechanisms and leverage official information platforms like COSMILE Europe to enhance transparency. This platform provides authoritative data on nearly 30,000 cosmetic ingredients, supports queries in 14 languages, and serves as a vital reference for ingredient safety and compliance operations.

The European Commission emphasizes that this regulatory update represents a crucial measure balancing consumer safety protection with industry innovation. As the 2026 implementation date approaches, cosmetic companies must accelerate technical adjustments and process optimization to proactively adapt to new regulatory requirements, ensuring compliant operations within the EU market.