June 2026 brought a number of important cosmetic regulatory developments across the UK, EU, US and Canada.
Several of these updates have practical implications for cosmetic ingredients, packaging formats, sunscreen products, claims support, labelling, product notification and ongoing market compliance.
For brands selling across multiple markets, the key theme is clear: regulatory divergence is becoming more visible, particularly between Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the EU. At the same time, packaging sustainability, ingredient safety, environmental impact and product substantiation remain high priorities for regulators.
🇪🇺 EU – Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation
The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation is now moving closer to practical application. The Regulation introduces a harmonised framework across EU Member States for packaging design, recyclability, packaging minimisation, recycled content, labelling and waste reduction.
For cosmetics, this is especially relevant because the sector uses a wide variety of packaging formats, including bottles, tubes, jars, pumps, aerosols, cartons, sample sachets, refill packs and multi-material components.
Many of the Regulation’s provisions begin to apply from August 2026, with wider recyclability requirements building towards 2030.
Why does it matter?
Packaging is no longer just a marketing or supply-chain consideration. It is increasingly becoming a core compliance issue.
Cosmetic brands may need to evidence that packaging choices are suitable for the EU market, particularly where recyclability claims, refillability, recycled content or sustainability messaging are used. Packaging materials, coatings, inks, adhesives, closures and supplier components may all become more important from a technical compliance perspective.
This may also affect product launch timelines, as packaging information may need to be reviewed alongside the formulation, claims and artwork.
Application / Impacted Products
This update may affect a wide range of cosmetic products, including skincare, haircare, body care, aerosols, travel formats, refillable products, promotional packs, gift sets and sample formats.
Products with complex or mixed-material packaging may require particular attention, especially where packs include pumps, metallised components, flexible films, coated cartons, labels, shrink sleeves or decorative finishes.
🇪🇺 EU – D4, D5 and D6 Cyclosiloxanes under REACH
The EU restriction on D4, D5 and D6 cyclosiloxanes under REACH has now reached an important implementation point. From 6 June 2026, D4, D5 and D6 are restricted in relevant rinse-off cosmetic products at concentrations equal to or above 0.1% by weight.
The restriction also extends to leave-on cosmetic products from 6 June 2027.
Why does it matter?
D4, D5 and D6 have historically been used in cosmetic formulations for their sensory, spreading and volatility properties. They may be found in certain haircare, skincare, body care, antiperspirant, make-up and silicone-based formulations.
The restriction means brands may need to review both finished formulations and raw material specifications, particularly where silicone ingredients, blends or supplier trade names are used.
For leave-on products, the June 2027 deadline gives additional time, but reformulation, stability, compatibility and claims implications may need to be considered well before the deadline.
Application / Impacted Products
This update is most relevant to rinse-off and leave-on products containing silicone materials, especially where cyclomethicone, cyclopentasiloxane, cyclohexasiloxane or related silicone blends are present.
Impacted categories may include conditioners, hair treatments, styling products, serums, creams, lotions, make-up primers, antiperspirants and certain body care products.
🇪🇺 EU – Regulation (EU) 2026/909: Cosmetic Ingredient Updates
Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/909 amends the EU Cosmetics Regulation in relation to a number of cosmetic ingredients, including Benzyl Salicylate, Triphenyl Phosphate, Ammonium Silver Zinc Aluminium Silicate, Aluminium, water-soluble zinc salts, Acetylated Vetiver Oil, Citral, several hair dye substances and DHHB.
The Regulation introduces updated restrictions, conditions of use and Annex changes for affected substances.
Why does it matter?
This is a significant formulation and compliance update because it affects ingredients used across fragrance, hair colour, skincare, sunscreen, make-up and other cosmetic categories.
The practical impact will depend on the ingredient, concentration, product type, exposure route and whether the product is already on the market or in development. Brands may need to review formulations, ingredient declarations, safety assessments, fragrance documentation, technical files and artwork where affected substances are present.
Application / Impacted Products
The update may be relevant to products containing fragrance allergens, UV filters, aluminium compounds, zinc salts, colourants, hair dye ingredients and certain multifunctional cosmetic ingredients.
Potentially impacted products include perfumes, fragranced skincare, deodorants, antiperspirants, sunscreens, SPF moisturisers, hair colourants, make-up, facial skincare and body care.
🇪🇺 EU – Octocrylene REACH Restriction Progress
The proposed REACH restriction for octocrylene has continued to move forward. The proposal focuses on environmental concerns, particularly the potential impact on aquatic organisms and groundwater.
Octocrylene remains a permitted UV filter under the EU Cosmetics Regulation, but the REACH restriction process means brands using this ingredient should continue to monitor the position closely.
Why does it matter?
Octocrylene is widely used in sunscreen and SPF-containing products because of its UVB protection and its ability to help stabilise other UV filters.
If restrictions are introduced, this could affect sunscreen formulation strategy, SPF performance, photostability, claims support and product registration planning. Reformulating SPF products is often technically complex because changes to UV filter systems can affect performance, stability, sensory profile, water resistance and label claims.
Application / Impacted Products
This update is most relevant to sunscreens, SPF moisturisers, SPF make-up, lip protection products and other leave-on products containing UV filters.
Brands with EU sunscreen portfolios may need to keep this under review when planning new product development, reformulation or long-term product lifecycle management.
🇬🇧 UK – Cosmetics Regulation: 4-MBC, CMR Substances and Formaldehyde Labelling
The UK has introduced amendments to the UK Cosmetics Regulation through SI 2026/23. Key changes include the prohibition of 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor, also known as 4-MBC or Enzacamene, and the addition of a group of CMR substances to Annex II.
For Great Britain, products containing 4-MBC cannot be placed on the market from 15 July 2026, with an off-shelf deadline in January 2027. A group of newly prohibited CMR substances follows from 15 August 2026, with a later off-shelf deadline in February 2027.
The update also lowers the threshold for the “releases formaldehyde” warning in relation to formaldehyde-releasing preservatives.
Why does it matter?
This is a clear example of UK-specific regulatory timing that brands need to manage separately from EU requirements.
Brands selling into Great Britain may need to check whether products, raw materials, UV filter systems, nail products, preservatives or supplier ingredients are affected. The position may differ from the EU depending on product type, market route and timing.
Northern Ireland should also be considered separately, as EU-aligned requirements may apply under the Windsor Framework.
Application / Impacted Products
This update is particularly relevant to sunscreens and SPF products containing 4-MBC, as well as products that may contain newly prohibited CMR substances.
The formaldehyde labelling change may be relevant to products containing formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, including certain skincare, haircare, body care and cleansing products.
🇬🇧 UK – GB CLP and Chemical Classification Updates
The GB Classification, Labelling and Packaging framework continues to influence cosmetic compliance because ingredient classifications can affect whether substances are permitted or restricted under the UK Cosmetics Regulation.
Where raw materials receive new or updated classifications, this can trigger the need for review of SDS information, supplier documentation, fragrance/allergen data, Product Information Files and cosmetic safety assessments.
Why does it matter?
Cosmetic finished products are regulated under cosmetic-specific rules, but the classification status of individual ingredients and raw materials remains highly relevant.
For formulation and compliance teams, supplier documentation needs to remain current. Changes to classification may affect whether a substance can continue to be used in cosmetic products, whether additional safety justification is needed, or whether future UK cosmetic restrictions are likely.
Application / Impacted Products
This is relevant across all cosmetic categories, especially products using complex raw material blends, fragrance compounds, preservatives, solvents, UV filters, colourants, nail ingredients, hair dyes and botanical or essential oil materials.
Brands relying on older SDS documents or historic supplier information may be at greater risk of missing classification-driven changes.
🇺🇸 US – FDA Approval of Bemotrizinol for OTC Sunscreens
In June 2026, the US Food and Drug Administration added bemotrizinol to the list of permitted active ingredients for over-the-counter sunscreen products.
This is an important development for the US sunscreen market, as bemotrizinol is the first new sunscreen active ingredient added to the OTC sunscreen monograph since the late 1990s.
Why does it matter?
Bemotrizinol is already used in other global markets and is valued for broad-spectrum UV protection and photostability.
For brands developing sunscreen products for the US, this may create new formulation opportunities. However, US sunscreens remain regulated as OTC drug products, so formulation, testing, claims, labelling and monograph compliance need to be handled carefully.
The update may also support innovation in more cosmetically elegant sunscreen formats, including lightweight facial sunscreens, daily SPF moisturisers and make-up products with SPF positioning.
Application / Impacted Products
This update is relevant to US-market sunscreens, SPF moisturisers, SPF primers, SPF make-up, lip SPF products and other OTC sunscreen products.
Brands considering US sunscreen launches may need to review formulation strategy, permitted actives, SPF testing, broad-spectrum testing, water resistance claims, drug facts labelling and responsible market entry requirements.
🇺🇸 US – MoCRA Compliance Remains a Key Focus
The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act continues to reshape cosmetic compliance in the United States.
Key areas include facility registration, product listing, safety substantiation, adverse event reporting, responsible person obligations, record keeping and label contact information.
Why does it matter?
MoCRA has created a more formal compliance framework for cosmetic products in the US. Brands that previously treated the US as a relatively light-touch cosmetics market may now need to maintain stronger technical records and product compliance systems.
Safety substantiation is particularly important, as brands need appropriate evidence to support the safety of cosmetic products placed on the US market.
Application / Impacted Products
MoCRA applies broadly to cosmetic products sold in the US, although some exemptions and phased requirements may apply depending on company size and product type.
It is relevant to skincare, haircare, body care, make-up, cleansing products, fragrance products, children’s products and professional-use cosmetics.
🇨🇦 Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist and Cosmetic Notification
Health Canada’s Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist remains a key reference for substances that may be prohibited or restricted in cosmetic products sold in Canada.
In 2026, Health Canada continued to consult on proposed updates to the Hotlist. These updates can affect whether certain ingredients are acceptable in cosmetics, whether conditions of use apply, or whether a product may fall outside the definition of a cosmetic.
Canadian cosmetic products must also comply with notification requirements, ingredient rules and bilingual labelling expectations.
Why does it matter?
Canada has its own cosmetic compliance framework, so products that are acceptable in the UK, EU or US may still require separate review before being sold in Canada.
Brands need to consider ingredient acceptability, product classification, bilingual labelling, cosmetic notification, company/address information and any Hotlist restrictions that may apply to the formulation.
Application / Impacted Products
This update is relevant to all cosmetic products sold in Canada, including skincare, haircare, make-up, fragrance, body care, cleansing products, sunscreens and children’s products.
Products containing restricted ingredients, fragrance allergens, preservatives, colourants, UV filters, botanical extracts or actives with borderline therapeutic positioning may need closer review.
How ADSL Can Help
Regulatory change can affect products at every stage of development, from early formulation through to finished product testing, artwork approval and market launch.
ADSL supports cosmetic brands with practical, product-specific compliance and testing services, including:
- Cosmetic Product Safety Reports
- UK, EU and international regulatory compliance reviews
- INCI and formulation reviews
- Ingredient restriction checks
- Fragrance allergen and IFRA review
- Label and artwork compliance
- Stability and compatibility testing
- Microbiological testing
- PET / challenge testing
- SPF and claims support
- Responsible Person and notification support
- Reformulation support where regulatory changes affect existing products
Need support reviewing your cosmetic products against the latest UK, EU, US or Canadian regulatory changes? Speak to ADSL’s regulatory and testing team for practical, product-specific guidance.
ADSL – Advanced Development & Safety Laboratories
Technical Team | Paignton, UK
