,The European Commission's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) issued a final opinion in April 2026 assessing the safety of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) in cosmetic products. The evaluation considered updated scientific data, including concerns about its potential endocrine-disrupting properties. The SCCS concluded that BHA is safe for consumer use when applied dermally in both leave-on and rinse-off cosmetic products at concentrations up to 0.07%. This safety assessment is specifically limited to skin exposure and does not apply to products that may lead to oral ingestion or inhalation, such as oral care or spray products. The opinion also highlights that the assessment focuses solely on human health, excluding environmental impacts. It reflects a weight-of-evidence approach combining scientific literature, computational models, and expert judgment. Overall, while BHA raises some toxicological concerns, particularly regarding endocrine activity, current evidence supports its safe use within defined limits in cosmetic formulations applied to the skin.
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