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Annex IV Entry 109 14/08/2020

Annatto

CI 75120

Annatto appears in Annex IV as a positive-list colorant entry for EU cosmetics.

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Permitted colorant— Annex IV, EU Regulation 1223/2009
Entry: 109

Chemical identity and properties

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 542-40-5
CAS 542-40-5PubChem CID 5281249

Norbixin

Norbixin is a diterpenoid. — ChEBI

IUPAC name
(2E,4E,6E,8E,10E,12E,14E,16E,18E)-4,8,13,17-tetramethylicosa-2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18-nonaenedioic acid
Molecular formula
C24H28O4
Molecular weight
380.5 g/mol
Exact mass
380.19875937 Da
XLogP3
7.2
Topological polar surface area
74.6 Ų
Hydrogen-bond donors
2
Hydrogen-bond acceptors
4
Covalent units
1
Defined stereocentres
0

Also known as

E8M59E17AIbeta-norbixinRefChem:927893208-810-8trans-norbixinNorbixin (>70%)6,6'-Diapo-psi,psi-carotenedioic acidEINECS 208-810-8
14 more reported names
9'-cis-Diapo-omega,omega-carotinsaeureUNII-E8M59E17AI9'-cis-6,6'-Diapocaroten-6,6'-disaeureall-trans-Norbixin(2E,4Z,6E,8E,10E,12E,14E,16E,18E)-4,8,13,17-TETRAMETHYLICOSA-2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18-NONAENEDIOIC ACID.BETA.-NORBIXINALL-TRANS NORBIXINNORBIXIN [MART.].BETA.-NORBIXIN [MI]CHEBI:7623MSK5908TN83552,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18-Eicosanonaenedioic acid, 4,8,13,17-tetramethyl-(ALL-E)-4,8,13,17-TETRAMETHYL-2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18-EICOSANONAENEDIOIC ACID
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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.

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 6983-79-5
CAS 6983-79-5PubChem CID 5281226

Bixin

Bixin is a carotenoic acid that is the 6'-monomethyl ester of 9'-cis-6,6'-diapocarotene-6,6'-dioic acid. It has a role as an antioxidant, a biological pigment, an insulin-sensitizing drug, an anti-inflammatory agent, an apoptosis inducer and a food colouring. It is a methyl ester, a carotenoic acid and a dicarboxylic acid monoester. — ChEBI

IUPAC name
(2E,4E,6E,8E,10E,12E,14E,16Z,18E)-20-methoxy-4,8,13,17-tetramethyl-20-oxoicosa-2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18-nonaenoic acid
Molecular formula
C25H30O4
Molecular weight
394.5 g/mol
Exact mass
394.21440943 Da
XLogP3
7.5
Topological polar surface area
63.6 Ų
Hydrogen-bond donors
1
Hydrogen-bond acceptors
4
Covalent units
1
Defined stereocentres
0

Also known as

Methyl (9-cis)-hydrogen-6,6'-diapo-psi,psi-carotenedioate9L7T4VB66GAnnatto (E 160b)E160bCHEBI:31362,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18-Eicosanonaenedioic acid, 4,8,13,17-tetramethyl-, monomethyl ester, (2E,4Z,6E,8E,10E,12E,14E,16E,18E)-RefChem:29838230-248-7
16 more reported names
cis-Bixin20-methoxy-4,8,13,17-tetramethyl-20-oxoicosa-2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18-nonaenoic acidIsobixinStable bixin6'-methyl hydrogen 9'-Z-6,6'-diapocarotene-6,6'-dioate6'-methyl hydrogen 9'-cis-6,6'-diapocarotene-6,6'-dioateC25H30O4alpha-BixinEINECS 230-248-7UNII-9L7T4VB66GCCRIS 9384a-Bixin(9-cis)-6,6'-diapo-?,?-carotenedioic acid 6-methyl ester; a-Bixin; BixinolBIXINS CIS-FORM.ALPHA.-BIXINBIXIN [MART.]
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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

Warnings

Purity criteria as set out in Commission Directive 95/45/EC (E 160b)

Colour index or glossary

CI 75120

Chemical name

Annatto

Chemical / IUPAC name

6,6'-Diapo-psi.,psi.-carotenedioic acid

Color

Orange

Regulatory information

Regulation

(EC) 2009/1223

See every entry this act set

Identified ingredients

Key data

CAS
1393-63-1; 542-40-5; 6983-79-5
EC
215-735-4; 208-810-8; 230-248-7
Annex
IV
Entry number
109

Inventory links for Annatto

Inventory Restriction reference
Ref 32803

CI 75120

CAS: 1393-63-1 / 542-40-5
EC: 215-735-4 / 208-810-8

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

Annex IV 108
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EC: 248-708-0;
Annex IV 110
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CI 75130

CAS: 116-32-5; 31797-85-0; 7235-40-7; -
EC: -; -; 230-636-6; 214-171-6
Annex IV 106
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CI 74180

CAS: 1330-38-7
EC: 215-537-8
Annex IV 112
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CI 75135

CAS: 3763-55-1
Annex IV 105
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CI 74160

CAS: 147-14-8
EC: 205-685-1
Annex IV 113
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CI 75170

CAS: 73-40-5
EC: 200-799-8
Annex IV 104
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CI 74100

CAS: 574-93-6
EC: 209-378-3
Annex IV 114
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CI 75300

CAS: 458-37-7; 94875-80-6
EC: 207-280-5; -
Annex IV 103
Nearby record in the same annex

CI 73915

CAS: 16043-40-6; 980-26-7
EC: -; 213-561-3
Annex IV 115
Nearby record in the same annex

CI 75470

CAS: 1260-17-9; 1343-78-8; -
EC: 215-724-4; 215-680-6; 215-023-3

What Annex IV means for Annatto

Annatto is an approved colorant listed in Annex IV of EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009. Only colorants on this positive list may be used to colour cosmetic products on the EU market.

Some colorants in Annex IV are restricted by product type — for example, prohibited from use around the eyes or in products applied to mucous membranes. Check the product type and conditions fields above before use.

This record is linked to 1 CosIng inventory ingredient for name and identifier cross-reference. The page also surfaces 12 related annex records with overlapping identifiers, annex logic or naming patterns.

Compliance checklist

  • Confirm colorant is used only in permitted product types listed above.
  • Record the Colour Index number and CAS identifier in the ingredient declaration.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Annatto is included in Annex IV of EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009 as a permitted colorant. Only colorants on this positive list may be used to colour cosmetic products in the EU. Check the product type conditions above for any use restrictions.

CAS 1393-63-1; 542-40-5; 6983-79-5 is the unique numerical identifier assigned to Annatto 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.

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 IV record Annatto

This page summarizes one Annex IV record for Annatto from public European Commission cosmetic materials and adds linked inventory or identifier matches when available.

Use this record page to review Annex IV conditions for Annatto, but confirm any final regulatory decision against the current official annex wording and source files.

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