As Brussels Plans
The EU regulators are at it again, and this time, they're coming after naturals hard, specifically the chemical linalool (both isomers). I found this information about the toxicity threat of linalool right off: "Some 7% of people undergoing patch testing in Europe were found to be allergic to the oxidized form of linalool." [1]
Patch testing, which is skin, right? And they're talking about oxidized linalool, and claiming inhalation causes a reaction (pain, irritation, allergic reactions). For this 7% of people, and if this number holds out over the worldwide population, is roughly 549,500,000 people in the world, I feel for you. I'm terribly allergic to olive tree pollen, so when I go out and tend my garden while the olive tree is blooming, I wear a mask or bandana around my face and sometimes goggles, though I feel like an idiot when I do 'gear up', so mostly I do my work quickly and get back inside before my eyes swell shut (entirely anecdotal, I know). I'm allergic to a lot of other stuff too, and I make a point of avoiding those things, like insects that cause allergic reactions. And then there is dust and other pollen from trees (pine pollen tears me up), animals (dogs and cats), mold, foods, latex, medications, and yes, perfumes and household products. Most people who have these types of allergies know how to steer clear of them. There has to be some free will here, some self-responsibility. I know that can sound unsympathetic to some, and I do apologize, but if they're going to ban something that takes out such a wide swath of materials that entire industries depend upon, and they're doing it in the name of public safety, when are they going to ban alcohol? Or tobacco? Or cars? Alcohol abuse kills 2.5 million people worldwide every year, tobacco kills 8 million per year, according to the WHO, and 1.3 million die in car crashes. Where are the bans? I haven't found a single case of death caused by an overdose of oxidized linalool anywhere, but I will keep digging. What I have found, since you're thinking, oh, but people need alcohol and tobacco and cars (cars I'll give you), nobody needs lavender, or magnolia, or champaca extracts, is that linalool has some benefits as well. It is has been shown to be anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, anti-epileptic, it reduces stress, repels mosquitos (though this research is now in debate), is sedative, and anti-microbial (I took this off a blog that included citations for each claim), and it ended this information with 'side effects are minimal' and 'the benefits far outweigh the potential negative aspects.'[2]
If all goes as Brussels plans, the materials below, used in aromatherapy, natural skincare, and natural perfumery, will be banned for use and sale in the EU, effectively putting hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, out of work, from growers, harvesters, packagers, and packaging companies, suppliers, shipping companies, all the way down to retail.
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