Although the product had previously been approved for rinse-off products, the new legislation considerably widens the applications for the ingredients, opening it up to a variety of other products including skin care and deodorants.
The European Union's Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products Intended for Consumers (SCCNFP) concluded in its report of December 2003 that data provided by Lonza supported the use of Benzethonium Chloride as a preservative in leave-on products - except products for oral use - up to a maximum concentration of 0.1 per cent.
On June 20th, 2005, this opinion was published in the official cosmetics journal of the European Union, effectively giving Lonza authorization to market the ingredient for leave-on products.
A Lonza company spokesperson said, "This regulatory approval comes at a very opportune time when the number of cosmetic preservatives is narrowing considerably. Our customers need more tools than are currently available to prevent product spoilage. Lonza is committed to expand the number of cosmetic preservatives that will protect our customers' products from such negative consequences".
Currently the SCCNFP lists around 1,100 ingredients that are banned from use in cosmetics products. With that list growing all the time, a significant number of these ingredients have been preservative related.
In particular, scientific concerns over the safety of the paraben family of chemical preservatives has led to an almost total ban. Currently the EU Cosmetics Directive carries 55 entries relating to approved preservatives for cosmetics, 54 of which are said to be paraben-free.
Lonza, which is one of the leading custom manufacturers of chemical intermediates and active ingredients as well as biopharmaceuticals, says that current legislation on preservatives impacts not only European based producers of cosmetic products, but anyone exporting personal care products into Europe, a problem that heightened the need for an alternative leave-on preservative ingredient.
Lonzagard Benzethonium Chloride forms part of a stable of leave-on and leave-off preservatives approved for formulations by authorities worldwide that also includes Geogard 233 S, Geogard 234 S and Geogard 361.
Lonza is one of the leading specialty chemical players for the personal care industry, specializing in polymers, intermediates and compounds. It also has a world leading position in both the areas of specialty active compounds as well as preservatives.