Press Area

As part of its cosmetovigilance mission , since the beginning of the year ANSES has received four reports of acute kidney failure following the application of so-called ‘Brazilian hair straightening’ treatments containing glyoxylic acid. As a precautionary measure, ANSES, the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) and the Directorate General for Health (DGS) are today informing hair salon and cosmetics trade professionals, in addition to users, of this possibility of acute kidney failure associated with the application of hair straightening treatments containing glyoxylic acid. Pending the conclusions of the expert appraisal undertaken by ANSES, both the DGCCRF and the DGS advise against using such straightening products.

Under the National Research Programme for Environmental and Occupational Health (PNR EST), ANSES is launching two calls for research proposals. The aim is to gain a better understanding of issues that are still relatively unexplored, but which are considered to be of major importance to human health and ecosystems.

The safety of electric toys is verified according to a European standard that was updated in 2020. ANSES recently conducted an in-depth examination of the new protocol for verifying that toys containing LEDs are safe for eyes. It concluded that the revised version is unable to guarantee compliance with the limit values for protecting children's eyes. ANSES therefore recommends suspending application of the updated part of the standard relating to eye safety and revising it without delay.