Published on April 28, 2026 in the Official Journal of the European Union, Regulation (EU) 2026/909 (Omnibus 2 on cosmetic ingredients) amends Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009, taking into account recent scientific opinions from the SCCS on substances requiring regulatory updates in light of technical and scientific progress.

The measure bans the use of Triphenyl Phosphate in cosmetic products, with a prohibition on placing non-compliant products on the market from January 1, 2027, and a ban on making them available on the market from July 1, 2028.

Omnibus 2 also introduces new restrictions and conditions of use for several categories of cosmetic ingredients, including fragrance agents, UV filters, preservatives, hair dyes, zinc salts, and aluminium compounds.

The Regulation sets out phased and differentiated compliance timelines for placing products on the market and making them available within the EU.

Amendments to the Annexes and affected substances

The Regulation updates Annexes II, III, V, and VI, redefining the conditions of use for several key substances.

Annex II (Prohibited substances)

• Triphenyl Phosphate (Trifenylphosphate): added to the list of prohibited substances in cosmetics (not permitted in cosmetic products). The restriction is based on the SCCS opinion from July 2024, which could not rule out genotoxicity due to insufficient data.

Annex III (Restricted substances)

• Water-soluble zinc salts: updated conditions of use in oral hygiene products, with different limits depending on product type and age group.
• Citral (including Geranial and Neral): new maximum concentration limits introduced, varying by product category, use type (rinse-off and leave-on), and area of application.
• Benzyl Salicylate: new maximum usage levels introduced, depending on product category.
• Aluminium-containing ingredients: new concentration limits introduced for different cosmetic categories.
• Acetylated Vetiveria Zizanioides Root Extract / Oil: new usage restrictions depending on cosmetic type.
• Hair dyes: four new colorant ingredients added (HC Blue No. 18, Hydroxypropyl-p-phenylenediamine and its 2HCl salt, HC Yellow No. 16, HC Red No. 18).

Annex V (Preservatives)

• Ammonium Silver Zinc Aluminium Silicate: added as a newly authorised preservative under specific conditions of use.

Annex VI (UV filters)

• Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB): remains authorised as a UV filter, but a new maximum limit is introduced for the unavoidable impurity di-n-hexyl phthalate (DnHexP).

Note: due to the detailed and non-uniform nature of the new restrictions, this summary highlights the main changes. For a complete assessment of each substance, the official Regulation should be consulted directly.

Compliance timelines

The Regulation entered into force on May 18, 2026. Application timelines vary depending on the substance, with different transitional periods.

For most substances under transitional regimes (including Triphenyl Phosphate, zinc salts, Benzyl Salicylate, aluminium compounds, and DHHB), the ban on placing products on the market applies from January 1, 2027, while products may continue to be made available until July 1, 2028.

Exceptions

• Immediate application: the four new hair dye ingredients and Ammonium Silver Zinc Aluminium Silicate preservative are subject to immediate application from May 18, 2026, with no transitional period provided.
• Extension for Geranial and Neral: while the placing on the market ban remains January 1, 2027, the deadline for making products available on the market is extended to August 1, 2028.

Given the complexity of the transitional regimes, the official Regulation should be consulted for substance-by-substance details.

What companies should do now

The Regulation formalises restrictions that were already anticipated based on recent SCCS opinions and now establishes a binding legal framework.

Companies are advised to start reviewing their formulation portfolios and technical documentation without delay in order to plan the necessary adjustments. In many cases, only concentration levels or conditions of use will need to be updated. However, products containing Triphenyl Phosphate will require full reformulation by January 1, 2027.

>>> Complife Group supports cosmetic companies in complying with Regulation (EU) 2026/909 through regulatory consultancy, safety assessment, and analytical testing services, helping manage formulation updates and reformulation processes.

SOURCE:
Regulation – EU – 2026/909 – EN – EUR-Lex