ANES Pushes to Label Resorcinol as Endocrine Disruptor

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) has proposed classifying resorcinol as an endocrine disruptor under the European Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) regulation, according to a press release from the agency. Why is this a positive development?

Resorcinol is used in various industries, including the production of tires, rubber products, adhesives, and resins. It is also found in some cosmetics, hygiene products, as an antioxidant in certain foods, and as an antiseptic in some medications.

In 2020, ANSES submitted a report to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), which recognised resorcinol as an endocrine disruptor. However, the ECHA did not classify it as a “substance of very high concern” due to some experts opposing this designation.

The CLP regulation is European legislation that applies to products for classification and labelling purposes. It applies to both manufacturers and users of the relevant products. In 2022, the regulation incorporated the term endocrine disruptor and defined “hazard classes,” which indicate the levels of danger to human health and/or the environment (eg, “suspected” or “proven” harmful). The inclusion of this concept was gradual, due to the absence of a harmonised regulatory definition at the European level, according to explanations from the French National Institute for Research and Safety.

One of the hazard classes in the CLP regulation is EUH380, which designates a substance as a “proven or suspected endocrine disruptor” and, therefore, poses a danger. ANSES is proposing to assign resorcinol to this class.

If adopted, the regulation will require that products containing resorcinol be labelled with warning statements, hazard warnings, and appropriate precautionary advice to ensure that workers and consumers are clearly informed about the presence of this danger.

ANSES’s proposal for classification has been open for public consultation on the ECHA website until March 21, 2025. Proposals, comments, and responses will be reviewed by the ECHA Risk Assessment Committee, which will then provide its opinion regarding the updated classification of resorcinol. Based on this opinion, the European Commission may draft regulatory texts to include the new classification in the CLP regulation.

Currently, the identified risks include:

• Acute toxicity if ingested
• Severe effects on the nervous system
• Skin irritation
• Severe eye irritation
• Risk for skin allergy

ANSES has added “endocrine disruption in humans” to this list. Resorcinol induces hypothyroidism, with detrimental effects, particularly in pregnant women.

This story was translated from Univadis France using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.