Chloromethane (Methyl chloride)
Chloromethane (Methyl chloride) is listed in Annex II as a prohibited substance for cosmetic products placed on the EU market.
Chemical identity and properties

Methyl Chloride
Chloromethane is a one-carbon compound that is methane in which one of the hydrogens is replaced by a chloro group. It has a role as a mutagen, a marine metabolite and a refrigerant. It is a member of chloromethanes and a member of methyl halides. — ChEBI
- IUPAC name
- chloromethane
- Molecular formula
- CH3Cl
- Molecular weight
- 50.49 g/mol
- Exact mass
- 49.9923278 Da
- XLogP3
- 0.8
- Topological polar surface area
- 0.0 Ų
- Hydrogen-bond donors
- 0
- Hydrogen-bond acceptors
- 0
- Covalent units
- 1
- Defined stereocentres
- 0
Also known as
16 more reported names
External database identifiers
- ChEBI:CHEBI:36014
- ChEMBL:CHEMBL117545
- EPA DTXSID:DTXSID0021541
- PubMed:11305778
- PubMed:11218045
- PubMed:10441466
- PubMed:1664256
Retrieved from NIH PubChem on 2026-08-31 by checksum-valid CAS matching. Chemical properties do not replace the regulatory decision on this page.
Record details
Chemical name
Chloromethane (Methyl chloride)
Chemical / IUPAC name
Methyl chloride
Regulatory information
SCCS opinions
- Opinion concerning Chemical Ingredients in Cosmetic Products classified as Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or Toxic to Reproduction according to the Chemicals Directive 67/548/EECC
- Opinion concerning Chemical Ingredients in Cosmetic Products classified as Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or Toxic to Reproduction according to the Chemicals Directive 67/548/EEC
CMR
| Category | Carcinogenic | Mutagenic | Reprotoxic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat. 2 | ✓ | — | — |
Key data
Related records for Chloromethane (Methyl chloride)
Direct matches are limited for this record, so nearby entries from Annex II are shown as well.
Bromomethane (Methyl bromide - ISO)
Nickel; nickel powder [particle diameter<1 mm]
1-Ethyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bromide
2,2-Dibromo-2-nitroethanol
3,5,5-Trimethylcyclohex-2-enone (Isophorone)
What Annex II means for Chloromethane (Methyl chloride)
Chloromethane (Methyl chloride) is listed as a prohibited substance under Annex II of EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009 and must not be intentionally added. Article 17 separately addresses unintended small quantities that are technically unavoidable under good manufacturing practice and compatible with the Article 3 safety requirement.
Formulators must screen their ingredients and raw materials to ensure none contain this substance. Suppliers should provide documentation confirming absence when requested.
The page also surfaces 12 related annex records with overlapping identifiers, annex logic or naming patterns.
Compliance checklist
- Verify this substance is absent from all raw materials and finished formulations.
- Request absence confirmation or CoA from raw material suppliers.
- Document the screening result in the Product Information File (PIF).
- This substance has CMR classification. Review the CMR table above and verify current Annex II/III status before use.
Frequently asked questions
Source note for Annex II record Chloromethane (Methyl chloride)
This page summarizes one Annex II record for Chloromethane (Methyl chloride) from public European Commission cosmetic materials and adds linked inventory or identifier matches when available.
Use this record page to review Annex II conditions for Chloromethane (Methyl chloride), but confirm any final regulatory decision against the current official annex wording and source files.
Tools & next steps
Check your formula
Paste a full INCI list to detect Chloromethane (Methyl chloride) and other flagged EU annex records in one pass.
INCI CheckerCompare entries
Compare Chloromethane (Methyl chloride) side by side with another annex record to review differences in restrictions, concentrations and annex placement.
CompareBrowse the annex
See all records in Annex II and compare regulatory conditions across substances in this annex.
Open Annex II