SCCP Opinion on Tea Tree Oil
On December 7, 2004, during their 2nd plenary meeting, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) adopted an opinion on Tea Tree Oil.
In this opinion, the EU's SCCP concluded that "[t]he sparse data available suggest that the use of undiluted Tea Tree Oil as a commercial product is not safe. The safety dossier of Tea Tree Oil is incomplete. The stability of Tea Tree Oil in cosmetic formulations is questionable. A standardized method for the specification of Tea Tree Oil is needed. Industry should develop an analytical testing method based on typical degradation products to ensure and control the stability of the material.
Skin and eye irritation was not assessed by adequate methods. There are relevant data gaps with regard to subchronic toxicity, percutaneous absorption, genotoxicity/carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity. The safe use of Tea Tree Oil as cosmetic ingredient cannot be assessed.
A complete dossier of a representative standardized material to all relevant toxicological endpoints is required by the end of 2005; an opinion based on the information available at that time will be given."
The complete SCCP opinion on Tea Tree Oil is available at:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_risk/committees/04_sccp/docs/sccp_o_018.pdf
At this 2nd plenary meeting, the SCCP also adopted opinions on:
Atranol and chloroatranol present in natural extracts (e.g. oak moss and tree moss extract)
Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (sensitisatio only).
Hydroxyethyl-p-phenylenediamine Sulfate COLIPA Nø A80
Bishydroxyethyl Biscetyl Malonamide (Questamide H)
The SCCP also adopted a clarification of the SCCNFP opinion on 5-Chloro-2-Methyl-Isothiazolin-3(2H)-one and 2-Methylisothiazolin-3(2H)-one. (INCI name: Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone).
http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_risk/committees/04_sccp/docs/sccp_o_00a.pdf
Source: Maurice O. Hevey, Convergent Cosmetics, Inc.
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