Market supports regulation of MMA use in cosmetics

26 March 2008 13:35  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--Players in the methyl methacrylate (MMA) industry are supportive of a parliamentary bill passed in the UK last week which would lead to tighter regulation of the product's use as a cosmetic adhesive, market participants said on Wednesday.

 

The Ten Minute Rule Bill - Nail Bars and Special Treatment Premises (Regulation), which would see nail bars in the UK more tightly regulated and the use of MMA as an adhesive for false nails banned, was introduced on Monday 17 March.

 

The use of MMA in the beauty industry in the US, Australia and New Zealand was banned.

 

Market participants, however, were little concerned by the impact the ban might have on the wider industry, with many applauding the move to stricter regulation of what was seen as an extremely niche end-use.

 

“It is a minuscule amount of MMA to the market,” a major MMA producer said. “It has been under the radar for a long time - it is old news. It is not about MMA producers wanting to sell to the industry, it is about people getting hold of the product.”  

 

“It really is not an issue to our market,” a buyer source commented.

 

MMA has a variety of potential uses, from adhesives and coatings as a monomer to Plexiglas in its polymerised form. It can also be used in dental and surgical applications including the fitting of dental plates and the reconstruction of shattered bones.

 

However, over 80% of MMA consumption is accounted for in the construction and automotive industries and by original equipment manufacture.

 

Major producers of MMA in Europe include the chemicals segment of Evonik Industries, Lucite and Arkema.

By: Julia Meehan
+44 20 8652 3214

< previous article(VIDEO – ICIS news Americas Lunchtime Bulletin 2 November 2009)

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly