Soil Association calls for ban on beauty product ingredients

Peter Melchett, Soil Association policy director has called for a ban on two preservatives found in high street health and beauty products: Methylisothiazolinone (MI) and Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI). MI and MCI are preservatives used in a number of products - shampoos, conditioners, shower gels and baby wipes. They are added to products to prevent growth of bacteria and yeasts but are known to cause a range of skin irritations and rashes. Yet earlier in July, the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) announced that the EU has again failed to implement a ban and said that MI would still remain in many leave-on and all hair products, according to the Soil Association.

In December 2013, the trade body for the European beauty industry, Cosmetics Europe, had issued advice to manufacturers recommending that the use of MI be discontinued in all leave-on cosmetics including wet-wipes. This comes at a time when dermatologists are reporting an increase in skin sensitivity - likening it to an epidemic outbreak and The British Association of Dermatologists have reported that one in ten patients they are treating with eczema or dermatitis were allergic to these preservatives.

The Soil Association is promoting organic beauty products free from these and other preservatives. Following the successful OrganicBeauty Weekend launch in September 2013, the Soil Association is holding Organic Beauty Week  as part of Organic September 2014. The week long promotion and celebration of the organic beauty market will see brands including Neal’s Yard Remedies, Bamford, Inlight, Therapi, Natracare, Odylique and Pai Skincare all getting involved with special offers and events online and in-store. More information is available here.