As of 5 February, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety is evaluating use of titanium dioxide – now officially classified as a Category 2 carcinogen in the EU – in cosmetic products that can expose consumers by way of inhalation. Without a favorable SCCS opinion, the ingredient’s use in those contexts will be banned under Article 15 of the Cosmetics Regulation.

TiO2's nano-form use in spray sunscreens is already prohibited in the EU under the Cosmetics Regulation, but broader restrictions potentially extending to other cosmetic categories could be imposed down the line following a proposal from ECHA's Committee for Risk Assessment that the ingredient be CLP-classified as a suspected carcinogen when inhaled. There are also potential ramifications stateside to consider.

Plaintiffs allege that Coppertone sunscreens are deceptively labeled as “mineral-based” when they contain a larger percentage of chemical active ingredients than mineral active ingredients. On 31 July, California’s Northern District roundly rejected defendants’ motion to dismiss.