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Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
Executive Summary
1. General data
1.1 1,4-Dihydroxybenzene
1.2 CAS n°
1.3 Ingredient of oxidative hair dye mixtures where used as a "coupler"; concentration up to 0.3 % ("in the bottle") for dying use to be diluted to max 0.15 %.
2. Terms of reference: follow-up evaluation. (Subm. III)
4. Statement on the toxicological evaluation
The SCCNFP concluded that the use of Hydroquinone as a constituent in oxidative hair dye formulations as a `coupler´ is safe in this kind off rinse-off cosmetic products which moereover are applied for hair dyeing normally once a month; only a small quantity comes into contact with the scalp and Hydroquinone disappears rapidly during the reaction time of the dyeing procedure down to less than 5 % within 10 to 30 minutes.
Classification : 1 as a oxidative hair dye constituent ('coupler') up to 0.3 %.
5. Statement on the toxicological evaluation
The SCCNFP is the scientific advisory body to the European Commission in matters of consumer protection with respect to cosmetics and non-food products intended for consumers.
The Commission's general policy regarding research on animals supports the development of alternative methods to replace or to reduce animal testing when possible. In this context, the SCCNFP has a specific working group on alternatives to animal testing which, in co-operation with other Commission services such as ECVAM (European Centre for Validation of Alternative Methods), evaluates these methods.
SCCNFP opinions include evaluations of experiments using laboratory animals; such tests are conducted in accordance with all legal provisions and preferably under chemical law regulations. Only in cases where no alternative method is available will such tests be evaluated and the resulting data accepted, in order to meet the fundamental requirements of the protection of consumer health.
1. General data
1.1 1,4-Dihydroxybenzene
1.2 CAS n°
1.3 Ingredient of oxidative hair dye mixtures where used as a "coupler"; concentration up to 0.3 % ("in the bottle") for dying use to be diluted to max 0.15 %.
2. Terms of reference: follow-up evaluation. (Subm. III)
4. Statement on the toxicological evaluation
The SCCNFP concluded that the use of Hydroquinone as a constituent in oxidative hair dye formulations as a `coupler´ is safe in this kind off rinse-off cosmetic products which moereover are applied for hair dyeing normally once a month; only a small quantity comes into contact with the scalp and Hydroquinone disappears rapidly during the reaction time of the dyeing procedure down to less than 5 % within 10 to 30 minutes.
Classification : 1 as a oxidative hair dye constituent ('coupler') up to 0.3 %.
5. Statement on the toxicological evaluation
The SCCNFP is the scientific advisory body to the European Commission in matters of consumer protection with respect to cosmetics and non-food products intended for consumers.
The Commission's general policy regarding research on animals supports the development of alternative methods to replace or to reduce animal testing when possible. In this context, the SCCNFP has a specific working group on alternatives to animal testing which, in co-operation with other Commission services such as ECVAM (European Centre for Validation of Alternative Methods), evaluates these methods.
SCCNFP opinions include evaluations of experiments using laboratory animals; such tests are conducted in accordance with all legal provisions and preferably under chemical law regulations. Only in cases where no alternative method is available will such tests be evaluated and the resulting data accepted, in order to meet the fundamental requirements of the protection of consumer health.
