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Safer Choice

Safer Choice Criteria for Fragrances

The Safer Choice Interim Fragrances Criteria:

  • clarify which fragrance chemicals may be used in Safer Choice products, and
  • provide a level and consistent playing field for Safer Choice partners and fragrance houses.

Under the interim criteria, listed carcinogens, mutagens, or reproductive/developmental toxicants (CMRs); listed persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic compounds (PBTs); and listed respiratory sensitizers are not allowed. To advance transparency, product manufacturers must disclose dermal sensitizers. Non-fragrance materials (e.g., solvents) present in fragrance formulations will be evaluated under their appropriate Safer Choice functional class criteria.

The Agency's goal is to implement more sophisticated fragrances criteria, like the Safer Choice Criteria for Fragrances v2.1, in the future. The v2.1 criteria cannot be implemented at this time because of the lack of available data and appropriate assessment tools for profiling human health endpoints. As new data and assessment tools become available, EPA will enhance the Safer Choice fragrances criteria in cooperation with stakeholders and the public.

Find out about the Safer Choice Fragrance-free label.

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