What does the restriction note for PROPIONIC ACID mean?

The restriction field for PROPIONIC ACID reads: V/2. This is the restriction note from the CosIng inventory. For authoritative conditions and limits, always refer to the linked annex entries.

What function does PROPIONIC ACID serve in cosmetics?

According to the EU CosIng inventory, PROPIONIC ACID carries the following function designation(s): ANTIMICROBIAL, FRAGRANCE, pH ADJUSTERS, PRESERVATIVE.

What other records share CAS 79-09-4?

CAS 79-09-4 may appear across multiple EU annex records. The CAS lookup page shows all Annex II–VI entries sharing this identifier, useful for identifying cross-annex regulatory status of the same chemical substance.

How do I check if my formula contains PROPIONIC ACID?

Use the INCI Checker to screen a full ingredient list across selected markets, or use the substance market comparison to review this identity across all supported market datasets.

InventoryRef 3726111/08/2020

PROPIONIC ACID

Propionic acid

PROPIONIC ACID is linked to 1 EU annex record on this page. Inventory note: V/2.

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Regulatory evidence by market

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Market	Evidence status	Records	Source language
European Union	Evidence linked Positive-list entry with conditions Open this evidence	1	English and EU languages
Great Britain	Evidence linked Permitted list with conditions Open this evidence	1	English
Canada	Source mapped Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported	0	English and French
New Zealand	Evidence linked Permitted list with conditions Open this evidence	1	English
ASEAN	Evidence linked Permitted list with conditions Open this evidence	1	English and national languages
China	Source mapped Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported	0	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 Restricted 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	Source mapped Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported	0	English and Hindi
Saudi Arabia	Source mapped Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported	0	Arabic and English

Chemical identity and properties

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 79-09-4

CAS 79-09-4PubChem CID 1032

Propionic Acid

Propionic acid is a short-chain saturated fatty acid comprising ethane attached to the carbon of a carboxy group. It has a role as an antifungal drug. It is a saturated fatty acid and a short-chain fatty acid. It is a conjugate acid of a propionate. — ChEBI

IUPAC name: propanoic acid

Molecular formula: C3H6O2
Molecular weight: 74.08 g/mol
Exact mass: 74.036779430 Da
XLogP3: 0.3
Topological polar surface area: 37.3 Å²
Hydrogen-bond donors: 1
Hydrogen-bond acceptors: 2
Covalent units: 1
Defined stereocentres: 0

Also known as

methylacetic acidethylformic acidCarboxyethaneMetacetonic acidLuprosilEthanecarboxylic acidPseudoacetic acidMonoprop

16 more reported names

ProzoinAntischim BPropionoic acidMethyl acetic acidAcide propioniqueSentry grain preserverPropcornPropkornC3 acidTenox P grain preservativeCaswell No. 707AdofeedPropionic acid grain preserverFEMA No. 2924Kyselina propionovaFEMA Number 2924

Open full PubChem record PubChem annotations 3D structure image

External database identifiers

ChEBI:CHEBI:30768
ChEMBL:CHEMBL14021
EPA DTXSID:DTXSID8025961
PubMed:23124754
PubMed:23060857
PubMed:23044120
PubMed:23043820
PubMed:23039985
PubMed:23032783
PubMed:23031469
PubMed:23030718
PubMed:23021520
PubMed:23007062
PubMed:23002626
PubMed:22978585

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 PROPIONIC ACID

INCI name

PROPIONIC ACID

Description

Propionic acid

Record provenance

Inventory reference: 37261
Imported identity: PROPIONIC ACID
Source update: 11/08/2020

European Commission CosIng source notes

Annex records for PROPIONIC ACID

Annex V Restriction reference

Entry 2

PROPIONIC ACID / AMMONIUM PROPIONATE / CALCIUM PROPIONATE / MAGNESIUM PROPIONATE / POTASSIUM PROPIO…

CAS: 79-09-4 / 17496-08-1 / 4075-81-4 / 557-27-7 / 327-62-8 / 137-40-6

EC: 201-176-3 / 241-503-7 / 223-795-8 / 209-166-0 / 206-323-5 / 205-290-4

Key data

CAS

79-09-4

201-176-3

Restriction

V/2

Function

ANTIMICROBIAL: Preventing and/or slowing down microbial growth.
FRAGRANCE: Imparting an odour or taste. Creating a perceivable pleasant smell and/or masking a bad smell.
pH ADJUSTERS: Controlling the pH of cosmetic products.
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.

#23280 · PROPIONIC ACID

The 5 markets that hold a rule for this substance do not classify it the same way.

restricted: South Korea
permitted on a positive list: European Union Great Britain New Zealand ASEAN

See every substance the markets disagree about

Ingredients with overlapping formulation functions

BENZOIC ACIDFRAGRANCE, pH ADJUSTERS, PRESERVATIVE

BETULA PENDULA WOOD EXTRACTABRASIVE; ABSORBENT; ANTIOXIDANT; EMULSION STABILISING; FILM FORMING; VISCOSITY CONTROLLING; EXFOLI…

FORMIC ACIDFRAGRANCE, pH ADJUSTERS, PRESERVATIVE

NICKEL CHLORIDEpH ADJUSTERS

S-DNA APTAMER-2ANTIOXIDANT; REDUCING; SKIN PROTECTING; UV FILTER; pH ADJUSTERS

SODIUM 3-MERCAPTOPROPANE SULFONATEDENATURANT, HAIR CONDITIONING, pH ADJUSTERS, SURFACE MODIFIER

SODIUM ANISATEANTIMICROBIAL, FLAVOURING, FRAGRANCE, pH ADJUSTERS

TRIFLUOROACETIC ACIDpH ADJUSTERS

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

ECHA CHEM / Information on chemicals PubChem PUG REST EU Safety Gate cosmetic product alerts ECHA CHEM US EPA CompTox Cosmetic Ingredient Review safety assessments FDA Global Substance Registration System ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards Japan NITE-CHRIP NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards OECD eChemPortal

How PROPIONIC ACID appears in the CosIng inventory

The CosIng inventory lists PROPIONIC ACID 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.

PROPIONIC ACID is also tagged with 4 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

PROPIONIC ACID appears in the EU CosIng inventory and has linked annex records. Check the annex records above for applicable restrictions, concentration limits and conditions of use. Annex II listing means prohibited; Annex III means restricted; Annexes IV, V and VI mean permitted under specified conditions.

The restriction field for PROPIONIC ACID reads: "V/2". This is the restriction note recorded in the CosIng inventory for this ingredient. For authoritative conditions and limits, always refer to the linked annex entries above.

According to the EU CosIng inventory, PROPIONIC ACID carries the following function designation(s):

CAS 79-09-4 may appear across multiple EU annex records. Viewing the CAS lookup page shows all Annex II–VI entries sharing this identifier, which is useful for identifying cross-annex regulatory status of the same chemical substance.

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Source note for PROPIONIC ACID

This page combines the CosIng inventory entry for PROPIONIC ACID 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 PROPIONIC ACID and compare linked records, but verify restrictions and legal status against the current official source text and law before making regulatory decisions.

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Tools & next steps

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