On 13 March 2026, the European Commission’s Cosmetics Working Group met to review the status of Tea
Tree Oil (TTO) in relation to the criteria required to justify a derogation for its use in cosmetic products.
Following the positive SCCS opinion, CEHTRA, with support from EFEO, presented arguments addressing
the two outstanding criteria : food safety and the absence of viable alternatives. While the discussion
with Member States was relatively limited, the European Commission provided clear feedback on the current
submission.
In particular, the European Commission indicated that the dossier requires further substantiation, notably
with regard to the demonstration of the absence of alternatives. It called for a more robust and
comprehensive submission, including a clear timeline, in light of the applicable regulatory deadlines.
Following the meeting, industry committed to submitting additional data by 30 April.
