Regulatory Updates Powered by Good Face: January 2026 Edition

We're excited to share the January 2026 edition of our Regulatory Recap, powered by Good Face.

Our system has been updated with the most recent regulatory developments across key markets including new additions to California's Proposition 65 list, FDA's comprehensive PFAS report under MoCRA, updated ministerial conditions in Canada, expanded cosmetic restrictions in the UK and Taiwan, and the latest Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) safety assessments. Keep reading to explore these updates in detail.

United States: California Proposition 65

California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has added two new chemicals to the Proposition 65 list effective December 2025. N-Methyl-N-Formylhydrazine has been added to the list for its carcinogenic properties, while Bisphenol S (BPS) has been added for reproductive toxicity. These additions require manufacturers to evaluate potential exposures and update warning labels where necessary for products containing these substances above safe harbor levels.

Manufacturers should review formulations and risk assessments to determine compliance obligations under Proposition 65's warning requirements. The full announcements for N-Methyl-N-Formylhydrazine can be found here and for Bisphenol S (BPS) here.

United States FDA (Cosmetic Ingredients)

On December 29, 2025, the FDA published its congressionally mandated report under Section 3506 of the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA) evaluating the use and safety of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in cosmetic products. The report assessed 25 of the most frequently used PFAS, representing approximately 96% of intentionally added PFAS in cosmetics. The FDA found that toxicological data for most PFAS are incomplete or unavailable, leaving significant uncertainty about consumer safety and limiting the agency's ability to fully assess risk.

Based on mandatory cosmetic product listing data, 51 PFAS are currently used in 1,744 cosmetic formulations. While five PFAS appeared to present low safety concerns under intended use conditions, the safety of most could not be definitively established, and one PFAS was identified as having a potential safety concern with significant remaining uncertainty. The FDA will continue to monitor emerging scientific data and devote additional resources to address data gaps. The full report is available here and can be downloaded here.

Canada New Substances: Ministerial Conditions

The Canadian government issued new Ministerial Conditions under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, prohibiting the manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale, and import of certain toxic substances and products containing them, with limited exemptions. Effective December 2025, these regulations apply to 1,3-propanediamine, N-[3 (C11-14-isoalkyloxy)propyl] derivs., C13-rich, acetates (CAS 151789-08-1).

These conditions require strict controls on handling, disposal, and transfer, as well as comprehensive record-keeping and downstream communication obligations. Manufacturers must ensure compliance with pre-manufacture notification requirements and maintain detailed documentation. The full ministerial condition can be found here.

UK Cosmetics Regulation

The UK notified the World Trade Organization in December 2025 of amendments to The Cosmetic Products Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 through "The Cosmetic Products Regulation (Restriction of Chemical Substances) (Amendment and Transitional Provisions) (No. 2) Regulations 2026." These amendments introduce significant restrictions on hexyl salicylate use in cosmetic products and prohibit 13 new substances classified as category 1B or 2 carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic (CMR) substances under the GB Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation.

Hexyl salicylate will be added to Annex III as a restricted ingredient with specific concentration limits for different product types and age groups. The 13 newly prohibited CMR substances will be added to Annex II. These amendments will take effect from August 15, 2026, with products placed on the market before this date allowed to continue sale until February 14, 2027. The full notifications are available here and here.

Taiwan Regulated

Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare published amendments to the List of Ingredients Restricted in Cosmetic Products on December 4, 2025. The amendment adds 34 new ingredients, revises 74 existing entries, and removes one ingredient from the restricted list. These changes include updated requirements for hair dye substances, children's cosmetics, and oral care products, reflecting Taiwan's continued alignment with international safety standards and practices.

The amendments address nitrosamine risk management in hair dyes and introduce more specific age-related limits and safety warnings for children's products. The revised list shall become effective from October 1, 2027, with products manufactured or imported before September 30, 2027 allowed to remain on the market until their labeled shelf life ends. The full list is available here.

Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Findings

The CIR Expert Panel has released updated safety assessments for several cosmetic ingredients effective December 29, 2025. These comprehensive evaluations include an amended safety assessment of silicates, safety assessments of tetrasodium glutamate diacetate and beta-alanine diacetic acid, assessments of various sugar-derived ingredients including anhydrogalactose and saccharide isomerate, safety evaluation of sugarcane-derived ingredients, and an amended assessment of salicylic acid and salicylates.

These reviews incorporate the latest toxicological data and scientific evidence to support safe use of these ingredients in cosmetic formulations at established concentrations and in appropriate product types. The complete evaluations can be found here, here, here, here and here.