EU SCCS Issues Final Scientific Opinion on Safety of Methyl Salicylate in Children's Products

The EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) recently released the final opinion on the scientific advice for the safety of children's exposure to Methyl Salicylate (INCI name: Methyl 2-hydroxybenzoate) (SCCS/1676/25). This opinion is a revision of the previous report SCCS/1654/23, with a particular focus on the issue of contact safety for infants and young children aged 0-3 years old.

According to the latest opinion released by SCCS (SCCS/1676/25), based on its previous evaluation report SCCS/1658/23 and considering the potential multi-source exposure of infants and young children, the committee believes that when Methyl Salicylate is used in products for infants and young children aged 0-3 years old, it can only be considered safe if the concentration does not exceed 0.4% in toothpaste and 0.02% in all other types of cosmetics.

Methyl Salicylate, as an aromatic raw material and a traditional medicinal ingredient for relieving muscle pain, is widely used in various types of personal and oral care products. Due to its certain systemic toxicity and potential irritation, especially in children's use scenarios, it has always been a key focus of regulatory attention.

This scientific recommendation will provide important basis for the revision of the restriction clauses on this ingredient in the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, and also provide clear reference for the development of product formulas and compliance evaluation of relevant enterprises.

SCCS stated that the full text of the opinion was officially adopted on April 30, 2025 and publicly released on the European Commission's public health portal.