HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
Hydrogen peroxide and other compounds or mixtures that release hydrogen peroxide, including carbamide peroxide and zinc peroxide, with the exception of the following substances in Annex II: No 1397, 1398, 1399
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE is listed in Annex III and may only be used under the conditions shown in this record. Maximum concentration in this record: (a) 12 % of H2O2 (40 volumes), present or released (b) 4 % of H2O2, present or released (c) 2 % of H2O2, present or released (d) ≤ 0,1 % of H2O2, present or released (e) > 0,1 % ≤ 6 % of H2O2, present or released (f) 2 % of H2O2, present or released.
Reading this entry
This entry covers hydrogen peroxide and anything that releases it, across six product groups. The tooth-whitening tiers are the ones that decide whether a product may be sold to the public at all.
- Hair 12%, skin 4%, nail hardeners 2%, eyelash products 2% — present or released.
- Oral products up to 0.1% may be sold normally; above 0.1% and up to 6% they may only be sold to dental practitioners.
- Above 0.1%, first use must be by or under the supervision of a dental practitioner, and not on anyone under 18.
- The entry reaches carbamide peroxide and zinc peroxide, so a formula releasing hydrogen peroxide is inside it whether or not it lists any.
The scope is wider than the name. This entry covers hydrogen peroxide "and other compounds or mixtures that release hydrogen peroxide", naming carbamide peroxide and zinc peroxide explicitly, and every limit is expressed as H2O2 present or released. A product whose ingredient list contains no hydrogen peroxide can still be governed by this entry and still be over the limit.
Tooth whitening is where the tiers matter most. At or below 0.1% a product is an ordinary oral product. Above 0.1% and up to 6% it may be sold only to dental practitioners; the first use in each cycle must be by a practitioner or under their direct supervision, after which the product may be given to the consumer to finish the cycle; and it may not be used on anyone under 18. There is no tier above 6% for cosmetic use.
That structure is why whitening products sold direct to consumers cluster at 0.1%. It is not a formulation preference — it is the only tier that can be sold that way.
Checked against
Chemical identity and properties
Hydrogen Peroxide
Peroxides is compounds of structure ROOR'. It has a role as an oxidising agent. It contains a peroxy group. — ChEBI
- IUPAC name
- hydrogen peroxide
- Molecular formula
- H2O2
- Molecular weight
- 34.015 g/mol
- Exact mass
- 34.005479302 Da
- XLogP3
- -0.9
- Topological polar surface area
- 40.5 Ų
- Hydrogen-bond donors
- 2
- Hydrogen-bond acceptors
- 2
- Covalent units
- 1
- Defined stereocentres
- 0
Also known as
16 more reported names
External database identifiers
- ChEBI:CHEBI:16240
- ChEBI:CHEBI:25940
- ChEMBL:CHEMBL71595
- EPA DTXSID:DTXSID2020715
- PubMed:40965455
- PubMed:40706909
- PubMed:40522286
- PubMed:40436237
- PubMed:40384022
- PubMed:40378909
- PubMed:40139512
- PubMed:40086586
- PubMed:39866090
- PubMed:39743035
- PubMed:39709020
- PubMed:39667565
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
Maximum concentration
(a) 12 % of H2O2 (40 volumes), present or released (b) 4 % of H2O2, present or released (c) 2 % of H2O2, present or released (d) ≤ 0,1 % of H2O2, present or released (e) > 0,1 % ≤ 6 % of H2O2, present or released (f) 2 % of H2O2, present or released
Product type
Other restrictions
(e) To be only sold to dental practitioners. For each cycle of use, first use by dental practitioners as defined under Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council* or under their direct supervision if an equivalent level of safety is ensured.
Afterwards to be provided to the consumer to complete the cycle of use.
Not to be used on a person under 18 years of age.
(f) For professional use only
Warnings
(a) (f) Wear suitable gloves
(a) (b) (c) (e)
Contains hydrogen peroxide
Avoid contact with eyes
Rinse immediately if product comes into contact with them.
(e) Concentration of H2O2 present or released indicated in percentage.
Not to be used on a person under 18 years of age.
To be only sold to dental practitioners. For each cycle of use, the first use to be only done by dental practitioners or under their direct supervision if an equivalent level of safety is ensured.
Afterwards to be provided to the consumer to complete the cycle of use.
f) To be printed on the label:
‘For professional use only.
Avoid contact with eyes.
Rinse eyes immediately if product comes into contact with them.
Contains hydrogen peroxide
INCI glossary name
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
Chemical name
Hydrogen peroxide and other compounds or mixtures that release hydrogen peroxide, including carbamide peroxide and zinc peroxide, with the exception of the following substances in Annex II: No 1397, 1398, 1399
Chemical / IUPAC name
Hydrogen peroxide and other compounds or mixtures that release hydrogen peroxide, including carbamide peroxide and zinc peroxide, with the exception of the following substances in Annex II: No 1397, 1398, 1399
Regulatory information
SCCS opinions
- Opinion on Hydrogen Peroxide in Tooth Whitening products
- Opinion concerning Hydrogen (Carbamide, Zinc) Peroxide in Tooth Bleaching/Whitening Products,Guidance document on Epidemiological and clinical studies on Tooth Whitening Products
- Opinion of concerning Hydrogen (Carbamide) Peroxide in Tooth Whitening Products
- Clarification on Hydrogen (Carbamide) peroxide in Tooth Whitening Products
- Opinion concerning Hydrogen Peroxide and Hydrogen Peroxide releasing Substances used in Oral Care Products
- Opinion on Hydrogen peroxide, in its free form or when released, oral hygiene products
Key data
Inventory links for HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
MAGNESIUM PEROXIDE
SODIUM PERBORATE
Related records for HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
Direct matches are limited for this record, so nearby entries from Annex III are shown as well.
POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE / SODIUM HYDROXIDE
Methylphenylenediamines, their N- substituted derivatives and their salts (1), with the exception o…
Methylphenylenediamines, their N-substituted derivatives and their salts (1) with the exception of …
What Annex III means for HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE is a restricted substance under Annex III of EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009. Its use in cosmetics is only permitted under the specific conditions set out in the entry above, including applicable concentration limits, product type restrictions and required warning statements.
When including this substance in a formulation, all conditions — maximum concentration, product scope and warning labels — must be met simultaneously. Compliance with one condition does not override the others.
This record is linked to 10 CosIng inventory ingredients for name and identifier cross-reference. The page also surfaces 12 related annex records with overlapping identifiers, annex logic or naming patterns.
Compliance checklist
- Ensure formulation concentration does not exceed: (a) 12 % of H2O2 (40 volumes), present or released (b) 4 % of H2O2, present or released (c) 2 % of H2O2, present or released (d) ≤ 0,1 % of H2O2, present or released (e) > 0,1 % ≤ 6 % of H2O2, present or released (f) 2 % of H2O2, present or released
- Confirm product type compatibility: (a) Hair products (b) Skin products (c) Nail hardening products (d) Oral products, including mouth rinse, tooth paste and tooth whitening or bleaching products (e) Tooth whitening or bleaching products (f) Products intended for eyelashes
- Include required warning statement on product label.
- Document conditions of use in the Product Information File (PIF).
Frequently asked questions
Source note for Annex III record HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
This page summarizes one Annex III record for HYDROGEN PEROXIDE from public European Commission cosmetic materials and adds linked inventory or identifier matches when available.
Use this record page to review Annex III conditions for HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, but confirm any final regulatory decision against the current official annex wording and source files.
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