The safety of fullerenes in cosmetic products is uncertain, according to the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS). The information provided by the Notifier on the possible genotoxicity of fullerenes and other concerns was insufficient. The European Commission has recently proposed a new rule requiring the industry to provide additional data in the short term. If the industry fails to do so, fullerenes will be banned for use in cosmetic products, like other nanomaterials.

Two years ago, the EU banned the use of the white food colourant titanium dioxide (E 171), because of concerns regarding genotoxicity. Yet, products with this food additive may still be found on the European market. Several institutes outside the EU do not share EU concerns. Therefore, titanium dioxide remains being used in food products outside the EU. As a result, imported products are a potential source of illegal presence of titanium dioxide in food on the EU market.