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InventoryRef 3858210/08/2020

THIMEROSAL

Mercurate(1-), ethyl[2-mercaptobenzoato(2-)-O, S]-, sodium

THIMEROSAL is linked to 1 EU annex record on this page. Inventory note: V/16.

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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.

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MarketEvidence statusRecordsSource language
European UnionEvidence linked
Positive-list entry with conditions
Open this evidence		1English and EU languages
Great BritainEvidence linked
Permitted list with conditions
Open this evidence		1English
CanadaEvidence linked
Prohibited
Open this evidence		1English and French
New ZealandEvidence linked
Permitted list with conditions
Open this evidence		1English
ASEANSource mapped
Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported
0English and national languages
ChinaSource mapped
Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported
0Chinese with selected English material
JapanSource mapped
Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported
0Japanese; official English translation available
South KoreaSource mapped
Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported
0Korean with some English names
United StatesSource mapped
Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported
0English
AustraliaSource mapped
Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported
0English
BrazilSource mapped
Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported
0Portuguese with INCI crosswalks
IndiaSource mapped
Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported
0English and Hindi
Saudi ArabiaSource mapped
Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported
0Arabic and English

Chemical identity and properties

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 54-64-8
CAS 54-64-8PubChem CID 16684434

Thimerosal

Thimerosal is an alkylmercury compound (approximately 49% mercury by weight) used as an antiseptic and antifungal agent. It has a role as an antiseptic drug, a disinfectant, an antifungal drug and a drug allergen. It contains an ethylmercurithiosalicylate. — ChEBI

IUPAC name
sodium (2-carboxylatophenyl)sulfanyl-ethylmercury
Molecular formula
C9H9HgNaO2S
Molecular weight
404.82 g/mol
Exact mass
405.992739 Da
Topological polar surface area
65.4 Ų
Hydrogen-bond donors
0
Hydrogen-bond acceptors
3
Covalent units
2
Defined stereocentres
0

Also known as

ThiomersalThiomersalateMercurothiolateMERTHIOLATESodium merthiolateThimerosalateThimerosalumThimerosol
16 more reported names
ThimersalateThiomersalatSodium ethylmercurithiosalicylateThiomersalumMerfaminMertorganMerzoninTiomersalTiomersaleEstivinMerpholMercurothiolatumAeroaid sprayMerzonin sodiumMerthiolate saltEthylmercurithiosalicylate sodium
Open full PubChem recordPubChem annotations3D structure image
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.

Inventory details for THIMEROSAL

INCI name

THIMEROSAL

INN name

thiomersal

Description

Mercurate(1-), ethyl[2-mercaptobenzoato(2-)-O, S]-, sodium

Record provenance

Inventory reference
38582
Imported identity
THIMEROSAL
Source update
10/08/2020
European Commission CosIng source notes
Annex V Restriction reference
Entry 16

THIMEROSAL

CAS: 54-64-8
EC: 200-210-4

Key data

CAS
54-64-8
EC
200-210-4
Restriction
V/16
Function
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.

#28748 · THIMEROSAL

The markets do not agree about this substance: it is prohibited in some and permitted under conditions in others, across the 4 markets that hold a rule for it.

prohibited
Canada
permitted on a positive list
European UnionGreat BritainNew Zealand

See every substance the markets disagree about

Ingredients with overlapping formulation functions

TEA-SORBATEANTIMICROBIAL, PRESERVATIVE
TEA-UNDECYLENATEPRESERVATIVE, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING
TEREPHTHALALDEHYDEPRESERVATIVE
THIAMINE BIS-LAURYLSULFATEPRESERVATIVE
THYMUS VULGARIS LEAF OILANTIMICROBIAL, ANTIOXIDANT, PRESERVATIVE
TRICLOCARBANANTIMICROBIAL, DEODORANT, PRESERVATIVE
TRICLOSANANTIMICROBIAL, DEODORANT, PRESERVATIVE
TRIFERRIC AQUA HYDROXY OXO BIS-TRIMESATEPRESERVATIVE

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 chemicalsPubChem PUG RESTEU Safety Gate cosmetic product alertsECHA CHEMUS EPA CompToxCosmetic Ingredient Review safety assessmentsFDA Global Substance Registration SystemILO/WHO International Chemical Safety CardsJapan NITE-CHRIPNIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical HazardsOECD eChemPortal

How THIMEROSAL appears in the CosIng inventory

The CosIng inventory lists THIMEROSAL 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.

THIMEROSAL is also tagged with 1 cosmetic function 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

THIMEROSAL 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 THIMEROSAL reads: "V/16". 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, THIMEROSAL carries the following function designation(s):

CAS 54-64-8 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 THIMEROSAL

This page combines the CosIng inventory entry for THIMEROSAL 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 THIMEROSAL 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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