Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS)
An independent scientific committee that advises the European Commission on health and safety risks of non-food consumer products, including cosmetic ingredients. SCCS opinions form the scientific basis for EU ingredient restrictions in the Cosmetics Regulation annexes.
The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) is one of the European Commission's independent scientific committees. It provides opinions on health and safety risks of non-food consumer products and services, with a particular focus on cosmetic products and their ingredients.
When the European Commission considers restricting, banning, or permitting a cosmetic ingredient, it typically requests a scientific opinion from the SCCS. The committee evaluates available toxicological data, exposure assessments, and epidemiological evidence to determine whether an ingredient is safe under normal and reasonably foreseeable conditions of use.
SCCS opinions follow a standardized methodology outlined in the SCCS Notes of Guidance (currently the 12th revision, SCCS/1647/22). The evaluation includes assessment of physicochemical properties, toxicological profile (including acute toxicity, irritation, sensitization, genotoxicity, repeated dose toxicity, reproductive toxicity, and carcinogenicity), and calculation of the Margin of Safety (MoS).
All SCCS opinions are publicly available and serve as authoritative references for cosmetic safety worldwide — not just in the EU. Many other regulatory jurisdictions reference SCCS opinions when making their own ingredient safety decisions.
Related Terms
EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC 1223/2009)
The primary European Union law governing cosmetic products, establishing requirements for safety assessment, CPNP notification, responsible person designation, ingredient restrictions (Annexes II-VI), labeling, and post-market surveillance across all EU/EEA member states.
IngredientAnnex II — EU Prohibited Substances List
The list of over 1,600 substances prohibited from use in cosmetic products under the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC 1223/2009). Annex II substances may not be used as cosmetic ingredients under any conditions, regardless of concentration.
IngredientAnnex III — EU Restricted Substances List
The list of substances restricted to specific conditions of use in cosmetic products under EC 1223/2009. Annex III specifies maximum concentrations, product types, warnings, and other conditions under which listed substances may be used.
ProcessMargin of Safety (MoS)
A quantitative measure used in cosmetic safety assessment, calculated as NOAEL divided by Systemic Exposure Dose (SED). A Margin of Safety of 100 or greater is generally considered acceptable by the SCCS, indicating the product is safe under normal conditions of use.
ProcessNo Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL)
The highest dose or concentration of a substance at which no statistically or biologically significant adverse effects are observed in a toxicological study. The NOAEL is the numerator in the Margin of Safety (MoS) calculation used in cosmetic safety assessment.
See how Cosmetica automates compliance
Replace manual regulatory work with AI-powered automation — from ingredient screening to submission filing.