EC Calls for Data on Colloidal Silver (Nano) in Cosmetic Products

On March 24, 2015, the European Commission (EC) announced a call for data on the ingredient “colloidal silver (nano).” According to the EC, it has received notification of several cosmetics products containing the ingredient “colloidal silver (nano)” (CAS No. 7440-22-4). The EC states that although this ingredient is not regulated in the cosmetics regulation, it is reported in the Cosmetic Ingredients and Substances (CosIng) database with antimicrobial functions. According to the applicants, the ingredient is used as antimicrobial in nano form, with a lowest cut off particle size of one nanometer (nm) and at maximum concentration up to 1.0 percent in cosmetic products. The EC states that it has concerns on the use of “colloidal silver (nano)” “because of the potential toxicity of its nanoparticles that enter into the cells and because the data submitted by the applicants seems to be insufficient to carry out a full risk assessment.” To prepare requests for scientific opinions to the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS), the EC invites interested parties to submit any relevant scientific information on the safety of “colloidal silver (nano)” used in cosmetic products, in particular data regarding all toxicological end-points and an indication on the suggested safe concentration limits. Interested parties, according to the EC, include Member States, manufacturers of cosmetic products, producers of the substances concerned, and relevant industry and consumers associations. Data are due June 30, 2015.