On May 4, 2026, the European Union’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) published its preliminary opinion regarding the safety of acetophenone (CAS No. 98-86-2) when present as a constituent of Natural Complex Substances (NCS) used in cosmetic products. The public consultation period will remain open until July 6, 2026.
Acetophenone is an aromatic compound commonly used in cosmetic formulations as a fragrance ingredient due to its sweet, floral odor profile. It also occurs naturally in various plant-derived raw materials, including essential oils, absolutes, gums, and resinoids. In addition, acetophenone is authorized for use as a flavoring substance within the European Union.
The assessment was initiated following the opinion issued by the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) of the European Chemicals Agency, which proposed the classification of acetophenone as Reproductive Toxicity Category 1B under the CLP Regulation. As substances classified as CMR Category 1A or 1B are generally prohibited under Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, a scientific safety assessment by SCCS was requested to evaluate the continued use of acetophenone in cosmetics.
Based on the available toxicological data and considering aggregate exposure from cosmetic and non-cosmetic sources, including food and tobacco smoke, SCCS concluded that acetophenone is safe when present at concentrations up to 100 ppm (0.01%) in finished cosmetic products.