According to Cosmetics Business, the European Commission is planning a proposal to ban the use of five parabens in cosmetics: isopropyl, isobutyl, pentyl, phenyl and benzyl esters of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and their salts in cosmetics, due to “insufficient information to conduct a safety assessment," according to a paper from the EU’s scientific committee on consumer safety.
The proposals would also reduce to 0.19 percent the allowed maximum concentration of propyl and butylparabens, used individually or combined in cosmetics.
Denmark has already banned the use of parabens in cosmetics products designed for children under three years old, and the French National Assembly adopted a bill this summer that will ban three groups of chemicals with alleged endocrine disrupting properties.