EC Requests Scientific Opinions on Nanoforms of Platinum and Gold

On November 22, 2019, the European Commission (EC) Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship, and Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) requested two scientific opinions from the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS):

• Request for a scientific opinion on platinum (nano)-colloidal platinum (nano) (Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) No. 7440-06-4, EC No. 231-116-1) and acetyl tetrapeptide-17 colloidal platinum (nano) (CAS and EC Nos. not available); and
• Request for a scientific opinion on gold (nano)-colloidal gold (nano) (CAS No. 7440-57-5, EC No. 231-165-9), gold thioethylamino hyaluronic acid (nano) (CAS No. 1360157-34-1, EC No. not available), and acetyl heptapeptide-9, colloidal gold (nano) (CAS and EC Nos. not available).

The request for a scientific opinion on platinum (nano)-colloidal platinum (nano) and acetyl tetrapeptide-17 colloidal platinum (nano) states that the EC received 18 notifications for cosmetic products containing platinum (10 notifications) and colloidal platinum (8 notifications) (CAS No 7440-06-4, EC No. 231-116-1) in nano form.  The EC received 13 notifications for cosmetic products containing acetyl tetrapeptide-17 colloidal platinum (CAS and EC Nos. not available) in nano form.  The EC states that it has concerns on the use of platinum-colloidal platinum and acetyl tetrapeptide-17 colloidal platinum in nano form because of the potential for nanoparticles to be absorbed dermally or across a mucous membrane and to enter cells.

The request for a scientific opinion on gold (nano)-colloidal gold (nano), gold thioethylamino hyaluronic acid (nano), and acetyl heptapeptide-9, colloidal gold (nano) states that the EC received 236 notifications for cosmetic products containing gold (68 notifications) and colloidal gold (168 notifications) (CAS No. 7440-57-5, EC No. 231-165-9) in nano form.  The EC received 11 notifications for cosmetic products containing gold thioethylamino hyaluronic acid (CAS No. 1360157-34-1, EC No. not available) in nano form.  The EC received 18 notifications for cosmetic products containing acetyl heptapeptide-9, colloidal gold (CAS and EC Nos. not available) in nano form.  The EC states that it has concerns on the use of gold-colloidal gold, gold thioethylamino hyaluronic acid, and acetyl heptapeptide-9, colloidal gold in nano form because of the potential for nanoparticles to be absorbed dermally or across a mucous membrane and to enter cells.

The deadline for each opinion is six months from receipt.  SCCS adopted the mandates at its October 30-31, 2019, plenary meeting.