Brussels, 22/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - The use of hydrogen peroxide in tooth whitening products will continue to be legally authorised in the EU but will be subject to strict conditions set out in European legislation. On 20 September, the Council of the EU adopted the directive amending Directive 76/768 on cosmetic products, in order to authorise the continued use of hydrogen peroxide in maximum concentrations of 0.1% in dental products, including whitening or bleaching products. The use of whitening products that contain the substance in concentrations of between 0.1% and 6% will require a clinical examination and an initial treatment by a practising dentist. Consumers will then be able to continue the treatment themselves.
These new provisions adapt annex III of the Cosmetic Products Directive to technical progress based on the opinion from the EU's scientific committee on consumer products (CSC). This committee in effect confirmed that a maximum concentration of 0.1% of hydrogen peroxide present in dental products or released by other substances or mixtures contained in these products does not present a risk. The CSC also considered that in order to be sure, the use of such products containing hydrogen peroxide in concentrations of between 0.1 and 6% would require an appropriate clinical examination to guarantee the absence of risk factors or any kind of oral pathology that could be a cause for concern. The committee also considered that tooth whitening and bleaching products containing more than 0.1% of this substance should be correctly labelled in an effort to guarantee appropriate use.
Formal adoption of the directive took place without debate. Member states will have a year to transpose the directive into their national law, once the directive is published in the Official Journal. (AN/transl.fl)