EU to root out dangerous dyes

The second piece of good news from Brussels on Thursday tackles a potentially very hairy problem; the use of dangerous chemicals in cosmetics dyes. That monthly trip to the hairdressers to blonde out your roots is not without risks depending on the products used.

So the EU has banned 22 substances, not currently used by EU manufacturers, but which can find their way via imports onto the market. After the EU’s scientific council identified the risk of bladder cancer with prolonged use of hair dye, the industry had to submit reports for all the substances in use. 115 chemicals have been cleared, but not the banned 22.

The ban comes into effect on the first of December. The danger list is available on the ec.europa.eu/ health website.

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