Issue Brief: Response to Re-Classification of Tea Tree Oil by ECHA.

The Australian Tea Tree Industry (ATTIA Ltd; www.teatree.org.au) has swung into action to support the local and European industry through its biggest regulatory challenge – the classification of tea tree oil as a Category 1B reproductive toxin by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) under the Globally Harmonised System (GHS) of hazard identification.

A hazard is something that has the potential to cause harm, whereas a risk is the real likelihood of a hazard causing harm.

Critically, “hazard” is the only thing that is considered by ECHA – not the likelihood of the hazard being triggered, so “risk” is not considered.

The classification crisis was triggered by a standard European safety review of a plant fungicide called Timorex Gold, which uses tea tree oil as its active component.

Should the Category 1B reproductive toxin recommendation proceed, the European manufacturers of cosmetic products containing tea tree oil, and Australian suppliers of tea tree oil, would be decimated.

ATTIA is taking action to support the industry following the landmark ruling, with the goal of having the EU’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) determine that tea tree oil is a safe cosmetic ingredient.

ATTIA will continue to lead efforts to prepare a suitable SCCS dossier and is cooperating with European associations to ensure that the submission is made to the SCCS as soon as practical, and within the required timeframe.

It will be difficult and expensive to defend tea tree oil, but Australian Tea Tree growers, ATTIA, and supporting EU cosmetic manufacturers are committed to this defence. It absolutely can be achieved.

ATTIA has prepared an Issue Brief in response to ECHA’s decision, covering an overview of the classification status, background on the data which triggered the issue, an explanation of hazard vs risk, and ATTIA’s path moving forward.

To download the Issue Brief, please complete the form below.