UK Calls for Data on Nanomaterials in Cosmetics

On August 14, 2023, the United Kingdom’s (UK) Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) called for the submission of any scientific information relevant to the safety assessment of nanomaterials used in cosmetics. Article 16 of the UK Cosmetics Regulation requires that cosmetic products containing nanomaterials be notified to the Secretary of State at least six months prior to being placed on the market. These notifications may be completed via the Submit Cosmetic Product Notification (SCPN) portal. In the case of nanomaterials not listed in Annexes IV, V, and VI, notifications must include additional data on the safety of the nanomaterial for use in cosmetic products. OPSS invites any interested parties, including academia, manufacturers of cosmetic products/raw materials, and consumer associations, to submit any scientific information relevant to the safety assessment of the below listed nanomaterials (or surface functionalized variants, alloys, or other related variants) used in cosmetics:

• Platinum (nano);
• Copper (nano);
• Silver (nano), colloidal silver (nano);
• Gold (nano), colloidal gold (nano), gold thioethylamino hyaluronic acid (nano);
• Silica (nano), hydrated silica (nano), silica silylate (nano), silica dimethyl silylate (nano);
• Lithium magnesium sodium silicate (nano); and
• Hydroxyapatite (nano).

Data on silica (nano), hydrated silica (nano), silica silylate (nano), and silica dimethyl silylate (nano) are due June 27, 2025. Data on all other substances are due December 22, 2023.