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Annex II Entry 667 CMR29/10/2010

Oxybis[chloromethane]; bis (Chloromethyl) ether

Oxybis[chloromethane]; bis (Chloromethyl) ether is listed in Annex II as a prohibited substance for cosmetic products placed on the EU market.

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Prohibited substance— Annex II, EU Regulation 1223/2009
Entry: 667
CMR

Chemical identity and properties

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 542-88-1
CAS 542-88-1PubChem CID 10967

Bis(Chloromethyl) Ether

Bis(chloromethyl) ether is a clear liquid with a strong unpleasant odor. It does not occur naturally. It dissolves easily in water, but degrades rapidly and readily evaporates into air. In the past, it was used to make several types of polymers, resins, and textiles, but its use is now highly restricted. Only small quantities of bis(chloromethyl) ether are produced in the United States. The small quantities that are produced are only used in enclosed systems to make other chemicals. However, small quantities of bis(chloromethyl) ether may be formed as an impurity during the production of another chemical, chloromethyl methyl ether. — Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

IUPAC name
chloro(chloromethoxy)methane
Molecular formula
C2H4Cl2O
Molecular weight
114.96 g/mol
Exact mass
113.9639201 Da
XLogP3
1.5
Topological polar surface area
9.2 Ų
Hydrogen-bond donors
0
Hydrogen-bond acceptors
1
Covalent units
1
Defined stereocentres
0

Also known as

Bis(chloromethyl)etherChloromethyl ethersym-Dichloromethyl etherMethane, oxybis[chloro-Oxybis(chloromethane)Dichloromethyl etherEther, bis(chloromethyl)Dichlorodimethyl ether
16 more reported names
Monochloromethyl Ethersym-Dichloro-dimethyl etherDichlordimethylaetherBis-CMEOxybis[chloromethane]RCRA waste number P0161,1'-Dichlorodimethyl etherDimethyl-1,1'-dichloroetherMethane, oxybis(chloro-Dichloromethyl ether, symmetricalCCRIS 90alpha,alpha'-Dichlorodimethyl etherBRN 1679223CHEBI:82270Ether, ChloromethylEther, Dichloromethyl
Open full PubChem recordPubChem annotations3D structure image
External database identifiers

Retrieved from NIH PubChem on 2026-09-02 by checksum-valid CAS matching. Chemical properties do not replace the regulatory decision on this page.

Record details

Chemical name

Oxybis[chloromethane]; bis (Chloromethyl) ether

Regulatory information

Regulation

(EC) 2009/1223

See every entry this act set

Other directives

(EC) 2009/790

SCCS opinions

CMR

CategoryCarcinogenicMutagenicReprotoxic
Cat. 1A✓
C=>0.001%
——

Key data

CAS
542-88-1
EC
208-832-8
Annex
II
Entry number
667

Direct matches are limited for this record, so nearby entries from Annex II are shown as well.

Annex II 669
Nearby record in the same annex

Propiolactone

CAS: 57-57-8
EC: 200-340-1

What Annex II means for Oxybis[chloromethane]; bis (Chloromethyl) ether

Oxybis[chloromethane]; bis (Chloromethyl) ether 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

Yes. Oxybis[chloromethane]; bis (Chloromethyl) ether is listed in Annex II of EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009 and is prohibited as an intentionally added cosmetic ingredient. Article 17 provides a narrow exception for unintended small quantities that are technically unavoidable under good manufacturing practice, provided the product remains safe under Article 3.

CAS 542-88-1 is the unique numerical identifier assigned to Oxybis[chloromethane]; bis (Chloromethyl) ether by the Chemical Abstracts Service. In cosmetic compliance work, the CAS number is used to cross-reference the substance across regulatory databases, raw material specifications and safety assessment reports. Multiple EU annex entries may share the same CAS number if the same substance appears under different conditions or in different annexes.

Oxybis[chloromethane]; bis (Chloromethyl) ether has a CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic) classification under EU CLP Regulation. Under Article 15 of EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009, CMR substances of category 1A or 1B are prohibited in cosmetics unless specifically permitted. Category 2 CMR substances may be used only if assessed safe by the SCCS. Always verify current annex status and any applicable derogations before use.

Use the INCI Checker tool on this site to paste your full ingredient list (INCI) and scan it against all Annex II–VI entries. The tool highlights any ingredients that match restricted, prohibited or allergen-flagged records. This is useful for rapid compliance screening of finished product formulas or raw material declarations.
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Source note for Annex II record Oxybis[chloromethane]; bis (Chloromethyl) ether

This page summarizes one Annex II record for Oxybis[chloromethane]; bis (Chloromethyl) ether 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 Oxybis[chloromethane]; bis (Chloromethyl) ether, but confirm any final regulatory decision against the current official annex wording and source files.

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