3-Methylamino-4-nitrophenoxyethanol: What the SCCS Concluded About Safety in Cosmetics
3-Methylamino-4-nitrophenoxyethanol safety summary from SCCP/1089/07: SCCS conclusion, NOAEL, maximum concentration or conditions, and source-linked conte.
3-Methylamino-4-nitrophenoxyethanol is covered by SCCP/1089/07, an SCCS-family cosmetic safety opinion dated 2007-10-02. The opinion conclusion for this opinion is direct enough for a substance-specific summary: Safe for use as a non-oxidative hair dye at a maximum concentration of 0.15% on the head; does not pose a risk to the health of the consumer.
Core Opinion Facts
- Opinion: SCCP/1089/07
- Opinion date: 2007-10-02
- Primary substance: 3-Methylamino-4-nitrophenoxyethanol
- CAS: 59820-63-2
NOAEL Values Cited in the Opinion
The no-observed-adverse-effect data below is shown only from the SCCS source fields for this opinion. It is not a calculated margin-of-safety output.
| Endpoint | Value | Unit | Study context |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | 25 | mg/kg bw/day | Rat, Sprague-Dawley Crl CD (SD) BR, 92/93 days |
| NOAEL | 100 | mg/kg/day | Rat, Sprague-Dawley Crl CD (SD) BR, subchronic 90-day oral (gavage) |
| maternotoxicity | 100 | mg/kg/day | Rat, Sprague-Dawley Crl CD (SD) BR, prenatal developmental toxicity (maternal) |
Maximum Concentration or Conditions
Conditions from the Opinion
The SCCP is of the opinion that the use of 3-methylamino-4-nitrophenoxy-ethanol as a non-oxidative hair dye at a maximum concentration of 0.15% on the head does not pose a risk to the health of the consumer.; The test substance is a secondary amine and should not be used in combination with nitrosating substances. The nitrosamine content should be < 50 ppb.
How to Read This Safety Conclusion
The key point for formulators is the match between the named ingredient, the cited NOAEL, and the SCCS conclusion. A NOAEL is a study point of departure, not a standalone permission to use 3-Methylamino-4-nitrophenoxyethanol at any level. The SCCS conclusion and any concentration or product-type conditions remain the controlling context for cosmetic use.
The source also matters because SCCS opinions can be ingredient-specific. The internal ingredient page for 3-Methylamino-4-nitrophenoxyethanol should be treated as the substance hub, while SCCP/1089/07 is the opinion-level page for the committee record.
Practical Formulation Takeaway
For a formula review, start with the identity check: confirm the INCI name, CAS number, and opinion reference align with the material in the formula. Then compare the intended product type against the SCCS concentration or condition language above. If the formulation uses a different exposure route, product category, or concentration basis, the SCCS conclusion should not be stretched beyond what SCCP/1089/07 actually assessed.
Review Notes
The conservative reading is to keep 3-Methylamino-4-nitrophenoxyethanol tied to this exact opinion. The opinion number, date, NOAEL table, and condition language all travel together. If a later formula review uses a different CAS identity, product type, or concentration basis, the source should be checked again rather than reusing this summary as a blanket answer.
This page is therefore an indexable safety summary, not a replacement for the committee text. It gives search readers the core SCCS facts for 3-Methylamino-4-nitrophenoxyethanol and keeps the source handle visible for audit.
Source
- SCCS opinion: SCCP/1089/07
- Source file: sccp_o_110.pdf
- Extraction JSON: Source documentation archived.