FORMALDEHYDE
Formaldehyde
FORMALDEHYDE is linked to 1 EU annex record on this page. Inventory note: II/1577.
Regulatory evidence by market
This matrix separates verified ingredient rules from sources that are mapped but not yet imported. No imported rule does not mean the ingredient is permitted.
Swipe or scroll horizontally to see every column.
| Market | Evidence status | Records | Source language |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | Evidence linked Prohibited entry found Open this evidence | 1 | English and EU languages |
| Great Britain | Evidence linked Prohibited Open this evidence | 1 | English |
| Canada | Evidence linked Restricted Open this evidence | 1 | English and French |
| New Zealand | Evidence linked Prohibited Open this evidence | 1 | English |
| ASEAN | Evidence linked Prohibited + Restricted Open this evidence | 2 | English and national languages |
| China | Evidence linked Prohibited Open this evidence | 1 | Chinese with selected English material |
| Japan | Source mapped Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported | 0 | Japanese; official English translation available |
| South Korea | Evidence linked Prohibited Open this evidence | 1 | Korean with some English names |
| United States | Source mapped Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported | 0 | English |
| Australia | Source mapped Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported | 0 | English |
| Brazil | Source mapped Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported | 0 | Portuguese with INCI crosswalks |
| India | Evidence linked Prohibited Open this evidence | 1 | English and Hindi |
| Saudi Arabia | Evidence linked Prohibited Open this evidence | 1 | Arabic and English |
Chemical identity and properties
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is an aldehyde resulting from the formal oxidation of methanol. It has a role as a disinfectant, a carcinogenic agent, an allergen, a mouse metabolite, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolite, an Escherichia coli metabolite, an EC 3.5.1.4 (amidase) inhibitor and an environmental contaminant. It is an aldehyde and a one-carbon compound. — ChEBI
- IUPAC name
- formaldehyde
- Molecular formula
- CH2O
- Molecular weight
- 30.026 g/mol
- Exact mass
- 30.010564683 Da
- XLogP3
- 1.2
- Topological polar surface area
- 17.1 Ų
- Hydrogen-bond donors
- 0
- Hydrogen-bond acceptors
- 1
- Covalent units
- 1
- Defined stereocentres
- 0
Also known as
16 more reported names
External database identifiers
- ChEBI:CHEBI:16842
- ChEBI:CHEBI:17478
- ChEBI:CHEBI:188447
- ChEMBL:CHEMBL1255
- EPA DTXSID:DTXSID7020637
- PubMed:40907675
- PubMed:40578478
- PubMed:40505820
- PubMed:40164397
- PubMed:40066870
- PubMed:39992237
- PubMed:39142364
- PubMed:39067042
- PubMed:38070821
- PubMed:37638564
- PubMed:37584494
- PubMed:37263556
Retrieved from NIH PubChem on 2026-08-31 by checksum-valid CAS matching. Chemical properties do not replace the regulatory decision on this page.
Inventory details for FORMALDEHYDE
INCI name
FORMALDEHYDE
INN name
formaldehyde solution
Description
Formaldehyde
Record provenance
- Inventory reference
- 33948
- Imported identity
- FORMALDEHYDE
- Source update
- 30/07/2020
Annex records for FORMALDEHYDE
Key data
- ANTIMICROBIAL
- Preventing and/or slowing down microbial growth.
- DENATURANT
- Rendering cosmetics unpalatable. Mostly added to cosmetics containing ethyl alcohol to make it unsuitable for ingestion.
- PRESERVATIVE
- Exclusively or mainly intended to inhibit the development of micro-organisms in the cosmetic product. All authorised preservatives are substances in the positive list of Annex V to the Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009.
Official EU ingredient-name evidence
The ingredient name exactly matches the official 2025 EU glossary of common ingredient names.
The markets do not agree about this substance: it is prohibited in some and permitted under conditions in others, across the 9 markets that hold a rule for it.
- prohibited
- European UnionGreat BritainNew ZealandASEANChinaSouth KoreaIndiaSaudi Arabia
- restricted
- Canada
ASEAN holds more than one rule for this substance, so its position there depends on the use.
Related inventory evidence
Ingredients with overlapping formulation functions
Additional official and scientific sources
11 external databases to check this identity in
Each link searches that source for this identity. What each source is, and its legal weight
How FORMALDEHYDE appears in the CosIng inventory
The CosIng inventory lists FORMALDEHYDE as a cosmetic ingredient and this page links it to 1 annex record. The inventory entry captures names and identifiers, while the annex record shows where the substance is prohibited, restricted or positively listed in EU cosmetics law.
FORMALDEHYDE is also tagged with 3 cosmetic functions in the official data. Function labels describe intended use, but they do not replace regulatory review of linked annex records before formulation or labelling work.
Frequently asked questions
Source note for FORMALDEHYDE
This page combines the CosIng inventory entry for FORMALDEHYDE with 1 linked Annex II–VI record from the local dataset built from public European Commission cosmetic ingredient materials.
Use this inventory page to research FORMALDEHYDE and compare linked records, but verify restrictions and legal status against the current official source text and law before making regulatory decisions.
Tools & next steps
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