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Annex V Entry 14 16/10/2010

FORMIC ACID / SODIUM FORMATE

Formic acid and its sodium salt

FORMIC ACID / SODIUM FORMATE appears in Annex V as a positive-list preservative entry for EU cosmetics. Maximum concentration in this record: 0.5% (as acid).

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Permitted preservative— Annex V, EU Regulation 1223/2009
Max conc.: 0.5% (as acid)
Entry: 14

Chemical identity and properties

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 141-53-7
CAS 141-53-7PubChem CID 2723810

Sodium Formate

Sodium formate is an organic sodium salt which is the monosodium salt of formic acid. It has a role as a buffer and an astringent. It contains a formate. — ChEBI

IUPAC name
sodium formate
Molecular formula
CHNaO2
Molecular weight
68.007 g/mol
Exact mass
67.98742355 Da
Topological polar surface area
40.1 Ų
Hydrogen-bond donors
0
Hydrogen-bond acceptors
2
Covalent units
2
Defined stereocentres
0

Also known as

Formic acid, sodium saltSalachlorFormic acid, sodium salt (1:1)Mravencan sodnyFORMIC ACID, NA SALTSodium formate, refinedFormic acid sodium salt (1:1)387AD98770
16 more reported names
CHEBI:62965NSC-77457RefChem:183890205-488-0690-860-9Formic acid sodium saltsodium;formateCHNaO2sodium formiateSodium formate, hydratedsodiumformateMravencan sodny [Czech]Formic Acid Sodium Salt; NA-AmasilCCRIS 1037HSDB 744E237
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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 64-18-6
CAS 64-18-6PubChem CID 284

Formic Acid

Formic acid is the simplest carboxylic acid, containing a single carbon. Occurs naturally in various sources including the venom of bee and ant stings, and is a useful organic synthetic reagent. Principally used as a preservative and antibacterial agent in livestock feed. Induces severe metabolic acidosis and ocular injury in human subjects. It has a role as a metabolite, an antibacterial agent, a solvent, a protic solvent and an astringent. It is a conjugate acid of a formate. — ChEBI

IUPAC name
formic acid
Molecular formula
CH2O2
Molecular weight
46.025 g/mol
Exact mass
46.005479302 Da
XLogP3
-0.2
Topological polar surface area
37.3 Ų
Hydrogen-bond donors
1
Hydrogen-bond acceptors
2
Covalent units
1
Defined stereocentres
0

Also known as

Methanoic acidFormylic acidAminic acidBilorinHydrogen carboxylic acidFormisotonFormiraMyrmicyl
16 more reported names
Collo-bueglattCollo-didaxAcide formiqueAdd-FAmeisensaeureC1 acidRCRA waste number U123MierenzuurAcido formicoFormicum acidumKwas metaniowyKyselina mravenciFEMA No. 2487AI3-242370YIW783RG1CHEBI:30751
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External database identifiers

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

0.5% (as acid)

INCI glossary name

FORMIC ACID / SODIUM FORMATE

Chemical name

Formic acid and its sodium salt

Regulatory information

Regulation

(EC) 2009/1223

See every entry this act set

SCCS opinions

Identified ingredients

Key data

CAS
64-18-6 / 141-53-7
EC
200-579-1 / 205-488-0
Annex
V
Entry number
14

Inventory links for FORMIC ACID / SODIUM FORMATE

Inventory Restriction reference
Ref 33949

FORMIC ACID

CAS: 64-18-6
EC: 200-579-1
Inventory Restriction reference
Ref 37871

SODIUM FORMATE

CAS: 141-53-7
EC: 205-488-0

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

Annex V 16
Nearby record in the same annex

THIMEROSAL

CAS: 54-64-8
EC: 200-210-4
Annex V 11
Nearby record in the same annex

CHLOROBUTANOL

CAS: 57-15-8
EC: 200-317-6
Annex V 19
Nearby record in the same annex

Hexetidine

CAS: 141-94-6
EC: 205-513-5

What Annex V means for FORMIC ACID / SODIUM FORMATE

FORMIC ACID / SODIUM FORMATE is an approved preservative listed in Annex V of EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009. Only substances on this positive list may be used as cosmetic preservatives in the EU.

Each preservative entry specifies maximum permitted concentrations and applicable product scope. Concentrations must not exceed the listed maximum. Some preservatives require warning statements on the product label.

This record is linked to 2 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

  • Use concentration must not exceed: 0.5% (as acid)
  • Verify the preservative is effective at the permitted concentration for your matrix.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. FORMIC ACID / SODIUM FORMATE is listed in Annex V of EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009 as a permitted preservative. It may be used in cosmetics up to the maximum concentration specified above, within the permitted product scope.

CAS 64-18-6 / 141-53-7 is the unique numerical identifier assigned to FORMIC ACID / SODIUM FORMATE 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.

The maximum concentration of 0.5% (as acid) applies to the concentration of the substance in the ready-to-use cosmetic product. When the substance is supplied as part of a blend or mixture, the calculation must account for the contribution of all sources in the formulation. The combined concentration must not exceed the stated limit.

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 V record FORMIC ACID / SODIUM FORMATE

This page summarizes one Annex V record for FORMIC ACID / SODIUM FORMATE from public European Commission cosmetic materials and adds linked inventory or identifier matches when available.

Use this record page to review Annex V conditions for FORMIC ACID / SODIUM FORMATE, but confirm any final regulatory decision against the current official annex wording and source files.

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