The European Union has decided to ban Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) in leave-on cosmetics (including ‘wet wipes’). This preservative, which was sometimes used to replace parabens, is allegedly a major cause of skin allergies.

The European Union has decided to ban Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) in leave-on cosmetics (including ‘wet wipes’).

According to the Regulation published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 23 July 2016 [1], from 12 February 2017 leave on cosmetic products containing this substance will be prohibited from being placed and made available on the European Union market.

Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1198 of 22 July 2016.

The European industry, however, did not wait for the official ban to begin withdrawing the substance from leave-on formulations. No later than December 2013, Cosmetics Europe, the European association of cosmetic manufacturers, recommended to stop using it as soon as possible.

The use of the MIT in rinsed off cosmetic products will be modified by a second regulation. According to the European Commission, this new text should be submitted to the vote of EU Member States early in 2017.