Lexi Webster
Australia does not have a specific list of chemicals banned from cosmetics. Instead, it follows a risk-based approach, assessing ingredients based on their potential health risks. This makes it challenging to determine the exact number of banned chemicals, but it is estimated to be similar to or less than the US, where the FDA bans or restricts about 11 chemicals in cosmetics. Some ingredients are restricted or prohibited in Australian cosmetics due to their known risks, such as mercury, hydroquinone, and certain colourants. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regulates chemicals in cosmetic products marketed as therapeutic or medicinal, while the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) assesses the safety of new and existing chemicals in other cosmetic products.
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What You'll Learn
Australia's risk-based approach to chemical bans
Australia does not have a specific list of banned chemicals for cosmetics. Instead, it follows a risk-based approach, assessing ingredients based on their potential risks to human health. This approach aims to ensure the safety of cosmetic products by evaluating individual ingredients on a case-by-case basis. While this makes it challenging to determine the exact number of banned chemicals, it is estimated to be similar to or less than the number in the US.
The Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) plays a crucial role in regulating chemicals in cosmetic products. AICIS helps protect Australians and the environment by evaluating the risks associated with industrial chemicals and recommending safer usage practices. The National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS), a division of the Department of Health and Ageing, assesses the safety of new and existing chemicals in Australia.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is responsible for regulating chemicals in personal care, skincare, make-up, and cosmetic products marketed as therapeutic or medicinal. This includes products like skin-whitening lotions, sunscreens, disinfectants, and complementary medicines. The TGA also regulates cosmetic injections, such as Botox and similar neurotoxins.
To determine if a product can be marketed as a cosmetic, manufacturers can refer to the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons, also known as the Poisons Standard. This standard provides a record of decisions regarding the classification of medicines and chemicals used in consumer products. Additionally, Safe Work Australia provides information for classifying hazardous chemicals and ensuring proper labelling according to the law.
While Australia's risk-based approach does not provide a definitive list of banned chemicals, certain ingredients are restricted or prohibited in cosmetics due to their known health risks. For example, mercury, hydroquinone (at certain concentrations), and specific colourants are banned or restricted. Phthalates, which have been linked to endocrine disruption and reproductive issues, have been banned from cosmetics in Australia. Similarly, formaldehyde, a chemical found in hair straighteners and eyelash glue, has been recalled by the ACCC due to safety concerns.
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Poisons Standard and Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines
Australia does not have a specific list of banned chemicals for cosmetics. Instead, it follows a risk-based approach, assessing ingredients based on their potential health risks. This makes determining the exact number of banned chemicals challenging. However, some ingredients are restricted or prohibited in cosmetics due to known risks, such as mercury, hydroquinone, and specific colourants.
The Poisons Standard and the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP) are crucial components of Australia's regulatory framework for chemicals, including those in cosmetics. The SUSMP, commonly known as the Poisons Standard, is an Australian legislative instrument developed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). It serves as a classification system for drugs and poisons, categorising them into schedules that indicate the recommended level of control over their availability to the public.
Schedule 2 (S2) drugs and poisons, also known as Pharmacy Medicines, are substances and preparations for therapeutic use that can be purchased from pharmacies without a prescription. They may have specific packaging and labelling requirements to ensure safe use.
Schedule 3 (S3) medicines are those that can be purchased from a pharmacist without a prescription but require the pharmacist to be involved in selecting and supplying the product. Some S3 medicines may have an increased risk of illegal diversion or abuse and are thus designated as Schedule 3 Recordable (S3R).
Schedule 4 (S4) drugs and poisons, or prescription-only medicines, are substances that require professional medical, dental, or veterinary management or monitoring. They may have additional prescription and recording requirements, and their prices may be subsidised by the Australian Government through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Schedule 4, Appendix D (S4D) includes prescription-only medicines that do not present a high enough risk of addiction or abuse to be classified as S8 but still carry a significant risk. These medicines are subject to stricter prescription and recording requirements and are referred to as "prescribed restricted substances."
While each state and territory in Australia has its own laws, the SUSMP provides a uniform classification system for medicines and poisons, ensuring consistent control and accessibility across the country.
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Animal testing and cosmetic ingredients
Australia does not have a specific list of banned chemicals for cosmetics. Instead, it follows a risk-based approach, assessing ingredients based on their potential risks to human health and the environment. This approach aims to ensure the safety of cosmetic products through individual assessments.
While Australia does not have a comprehensive ban on animal testing for cosmetic ingredients, it has implemented legislation prohibiting the use of animals for testing finished cosmetic products. This ban was enacted by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in collaboration with state and territory governments, amending the Australian Code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes in 2021. The amended Code includes a new section explicitly banning the use of animals for testing chemical ingredients in cosmetics.
However, a significant loophole exists in the form of a "multi-use" exception. This exception allows chemical ingredients intended for both cosmetic and non-cosmetic purposes to be tested on animals, provided the testing is justified by the non-cosmetic purpose. This loophole has been criticised by organisations like the RSPCA, which advocates for closing this loophole to prevent animal-tested ingredients from being used in cosmetic products under any circumstances.
To address consumer concerns and provide clarity, the Australian cosmetics industry has voluntarily adopted a code of practice regarding advertising claims about the animal testing status of their products. The RSPCA recommends consumers avoid products without explicit "Not tested on animals" statements or those with qualified versions of this claim. Additionally, consumers can look for the 'bunny' logo of Cruelty Free International for independently assessed products.
Australia's approach to animal testing for cosmetic ingredients aligns with the European Union's ban, reflecting advancements in alternative safety testing methods. These alternatives include tests validated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), computer-based modelling, and quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) that estimate the likelihood of a substance being hazardous.
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Chemicals banned in other countries but not Australia
Australia does not have a specific list of banned chemicals in cosmetics. Instead, it follows a risk-based approach, assessing ingredients based on their potential health and environmental risks. This approach aims to ensure the safety of cosmetic products through individual ingredient assessments. However, this makes determining the exact number of banned chemicals challenging.
In contrast, other countries and regions, like the EU, maintain extensive lists of banned chemicals in cosmetics. As of early 2022, the EU had prohibited over 1,300 chemicals in cosmetics due to potential health risks, including substances linked to cancer, mutations, and reproductive issues. The US has also banned or restricted certain chemicals in cosmetics, although the number is significantly lower than in the EU.
Some specific chemicals banned or restricted in other countries but not Australia include:
- Chloroform: Prohibited in the US due to its association with cancer risk.
- Methylene Chloride: Banned in the US due to its carcinogenic properties.
- Vinyl Chloride: Restricted in aerosol cosmetic products in the US due to its carcinogenic nature.
- Hexachlorophene: Restricted to no more than 0.1% in the US due to potential neurotoxic effects.
- Ortho-phthalates: Banned in California, Maryland, New York, and Washington State in the US.
- Formaldehyde: Banned in the same US states as above and also in the EU.
- Methylene Glycol: Banned in the same US states and the EU.
- Mercury: Banned in the aforementioned US states, the EU, and restricted in Australia.
- PFAS: Banned in Minnesota and several other US states, with an increasing legislative pushback against its use.
While Australia does not have a comprehensive list of banned chemicals, certain substances are restricted or prohibited in cosmetics due to known risks. These include mercury, hydroquinone (in certain concentrations), and specific colourants. Additionally, Australia regulates the import and export of certain chemicals, such as toxic organic pollutants and hazardous substances.
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Regulatory bodies for cosmetic chemicals in Australia
In Australia, the regulation of cosmetics is a complex process involving several regulatory bodies. The Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) is the overarching framework for regulating the introduction and use of industrial chemicals in cosmetics. AICIS replaced the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) in 2020 and is responsible for regulating the importation and manufacturing of cosmetic chemicals. Businesses must register with AICIS before importing or manufacturing cosmetic products, and they must assess the safety of their ingredients.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is another key regulator, responsible for medicines and products marketed as having therapeutic effects, including some cosmetics with therapeutic claims. The TGA also regulates cosmetic injections, such as Botox, and certain products like primary sunscreens and skin-whitening lotions.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is responsible for regulating cosmetic labelling, advertising standards, and product safety. They ensure that claims about cosmetic products are not false or misleading and administer the mandatory reporting and product recall processes.
Safe Work Australia (SWA) is involved in workplace safety and the Global Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). The Department of the Environment and Energy addresses environmental and sustainability matters related to cosmetics, including air, water, land, and climate impacts.
While there is no single list of banned or restricted chemicals in Australia, the Poisons Standard provides information on the classification of medicines and chemicals in consumer products. This resource can help determine if a product can be marketed as a cosmetic.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia does not have a specific list of banned chemicals for cosmetics. Instead, it follows a risk-based approach, assessing ingredients based on their potential health risks. This makes it challenging to determine the exact number of banned chemicals, but it is estimated to be similar to or less than the US, where the FDA bans about 11 chemicals in cosmetics.
In Australia, bans and restrictions on chemicals in cosmetics are regulated by each state and territory authority. The National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS), a division of the Department of Health and Ageing, assesses the safety of chemicals and makes recommendations to state and territory agencies.
Some chemicals banned or restricted from cosmetics in Australia due to potential health risks include mercury, hydroquinone (at certain concentrations), specific colourants, and certain phthalates like dibutylphthalate and diethylhexylphthalate.
While there is no single list of banned or restricted chemicals in Australia, the Poisons Standard (Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons) is a useful resource. It is a record of decisions about the classification of medicines and chemicals in consumer products, including cosmetics.
