Banned Hair Gel With Lilial Still Sold in Germany Online

Banned Schwarzkopf Hair Gel Still Sold in Germany Through EU Loopholes

German Authorities Still Unprepared for Online Trade in Hazardous Products

A banned hair gel from Schwarzkopf remains available in Germany through an Irish online retailer—despite containing the fragrance compound lilial (also known as BMHCA), which evokes the scent of lily of the valley and may impair fertility. Yet German authorities continue to declare themselves not responsible, shifting blame among themselves.

Who Is Responsible for the Banned Product? Unclear

Germany's Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) told CORRECTIV that enforcement of food safety regulations falls under state-level consumer protection agencies. However, if a manufacturer or seller operates exclusively online in Germany without a physical presence—as in this case—responsibility for product oversight lies with the local food safety authority where the consumer resides. Any consumer who purchases a questionable product can report it to their local agency, which may then examine the item and, if necessary, involve the BVL. The BVL would then notify authorities in the manufacturer's home country.

But when CORRECTIV contacted Berlin's Senate Department for Justice and Consumer Protection—the agency supposedly responsible due to CORRECTIV's Berlin location—it declined to act. The department stated that a final assessment could only be made after an official laboratory analysis, even though the EU has already banned the product. Since the online shop is based in Ireland, the Berlin agency claimed it had "no local jurisdiction." A spokesperson suggested consumers contact the manufacturer directly—or the Irish authorities.

In short: Responsibilities remain murky, and the harmful product stays on the market.

EU: Over 4,000 Cosmetic Products Withdrawn in a Decade

Over the past ten years, the EU has removed more than 4,000 cosmetic products from the market due to health risks, including suspected carcinogenic effects or fertility damage. This is evident from an analysis of data from the EU's Safety Gate alert system, conducted by CORRECTIV.

Yet CORRECTIV was still able to easily purchase several banned products from various online platforms, including Amazon. Two of the three test orders contained BMHCA, a fragrance compound classified as highly hazardous to health. In response to inquiries, an Amazon spokesperson stated that the company continuously monitors its store and had removed the banned shaving foam from its listings. Two other online retailers did not respond to requests for comment.

Instead of enforcing existing regulations, however, the EU is further weakening consumer protections against potentially harmful chemicals in cosmetics.

"Unacceptable Risks for European Consumers"

In mid-April, EU lawmakers from two committees voted on the so-called "Chemicals Omnibus" amendment to the EU Cosmetics Regulation. The proposed decision would allow substances newly classified as carcinogenic to remain on the EU market for an additional year—extending the total period to over two years.

"The chemical and cosmetics lobby is highly organized and influential," Pelle Moos of the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) told CORRECTIV. The extended deadlines for phasing out already banned products, as outlined in the omnibus procedure, pose a major problem. "This could lead to unacceptable health risks for European consumers," Moos warned. Current laws already lag behind scientific findings, forcing repeated bans on substances once deemed safe. Fragrances, in particular, lack transparency: manufacturers can cite trade secrets to conceal more than 2,500 ingredients from public scrutiny.

The European Parliament is expected to debate the proposal later in April.