The national health security agency had been seized a few years ago by the government. Its objective: to assess the use of octocrylene in sunscreens with regard to the European “Reach” regulations. Friday, following the work of ANSES, the government received a request from the agency to restrict the use of octocrylene which is harmful to aquatic environments.
“They have just published their analysis which leads to the evidence that there is an effect of octocrylene on aquatic environments, on the environment in a broad way, but not on health a priori”, indicated the ministry. of the ecological transition.
A proposal at European level
ANSES has identified the “need to put in place a restriction on the use of this substance”, added the same source, confirming information from France Info. The form that such a restriction would take – for example a complete ban or a ban on certain uses – is not yet established.
Contacted by AFP, ANSES confirmed for its part that it had recommended to the government “to initiate a European level restriction proposal for octocrylene – present in particular in sunscreens – given the risks it presents to the environment “. “We are going to launch a French consultation very soon… to take an opinion from the stakeholders: users, associations, industrialists…”, indicated the ministry. Then “we will probably request a restriction on a European scale”, added the same source.
“If we want to be able to carry a real restriction which is adopted and which is stable, we are obliged to go through all this formalism”, it was pointed out to the ministry, otherwise any decision could be overturned at European level. In addition, additional tests are underway to decide on the endocrine disruptor nature of octocrylene on the environment, that is to say on living species but not on humans, has also specified the Handles.