Australia cosmetic ingredient regulations
AICIS inventory status is not cosmetic approval and is presented as context only.
- Regulator
- Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme
- Source language
- English
- Coverage version
- Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026
What this list is
Australia has no cosmetic annex. Ingredient restrictions come from the Poisons Standard, and AICIS is an industrial chemicals inventory that says nothing about whether a substance may be used in a cosmetic.
- 125 Australian records: 93 restricted, 32 prohibited — drawn from the Poisons Standard, not a cosmetics list.
- AICIS registration concerns the introduction of an industrial chemical; it is not cosmetic approval.
- The Poisons Standard schedules a substance by hazard, and a scheduling entry can restrict or bar cosmetic use.
- Sunscreens are regulated as therapeutic goods by the TGA and fall outside this list entirely.
Two Australian systems are routinely confused, and only one of them answers the question a formulator is asking. The Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme governs who may introduce an industrial chemical into Australia and under what obligations. Being on its inventory means a chemical has been introduced lawfully. It carries no finding about cosmetic use, and treating an AICIS listing as approval is the most common mistake made about this market.
The instrument that does restrict cosmetic ingredients is the Poisons Standard — the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons. It assigns substances to schedules by hazard, and those schedules carry consequences: some substances are barred from cosmetic use, others are allowed only below a concentration or with specified labelling. The 125 records here come from that Standard.
Sunscreens are a separate matter again. Primary sunscreens are therapeutic goods, regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration with its own permitted-ingredient rules, and nothing on this page applies to them.
Checked against
Official ingredient records
32 matching records1,2-BENZENEDIAMINE
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: 1,2-BENZENEDIAMINE in preparations for cosmetic use and skin colouration (including tattooing).
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
1,3-BENZENEDIAMINE
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: 1,3-BENZENEDIAMINE in preparations for cosmetic use and skin colouration (including tattooing).
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
2,4-TOLUENEDIAMINE
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: 2,4-TOLUENEDIAMINE in preparations for skin colouration (including tattooing) and dyeing of hair, eyelashes or eyebrows.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
2-AMINO-5-METHYLPHENOL
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: 2-AMINO-5-METHYLPHENOL in preparations for cosmetic use.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
5,6-DIHYDROXYINDOLINE
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: 5,6-DIHYDROXYINDOLINE for cosmetic use in preparations containing more than 2% of 5,6-dihydroxyindoline.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
BASIC ORANGE 31 (2-[(4-aminophenyl)azo]-1,3-dimethyl-1H-imidazolium chloride)
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: BASIC ORANGE 31 (2-[(4-aminophenyl)azo]-1,3-dimethyl-1H-imidazolium chloride) in preparations for skin colouration and dyeing of eyelashes or eyebrows.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
BUTYL BENZYL PHTHALATE
CAS 85-68-7 · EC 201-622-7
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: BUTYL BENZYL PHTHALATE for cosmetic use.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
CARBAMIDE PEROXIDE (excluding its salts and derivatives)
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: CARBAMIDE PEROXIDE (excluding its salts and derivatives) in teeth whitening preparations containing more than 18% of carbamide peroxide except in preparations manufactured for, and supplied solely by, registered dental practitioners as part of their dental practice.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
CHRYSOIDINE BASE
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: CHRYSOIDINE BASE in preparations for use in hair dyes.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
COAL TAR
CAS 8007-45-2 · EC 232-361-7
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: COAL TAR for cosmetic use other than in therapeutic goods.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
DI(METHYLOXYETHYL) PHTHALATE
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: DI(METHYLOXYETHYL) PHTHALATE for cosmetic use.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
DIBUTYL PHTHALATE
CAS 84-74-2 · EC 201-557-4
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: DIBUTYL PHTHALATE for cosmetic use.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
DIETHYLENE GLYCOL
CAS 111-46-6 · EC 203-872-2
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: DIETHYLENE GLYCOL for use in toothpastes or mouthwashes except in preparations containing 0.25% or less of diethylene glycol.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
DIETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOMETHYL ETHER
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: DIETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOMETHYL ETHER for cosmetic use.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
DIETHYLHEXYL PHTHALATE
CAS 117-81-7 · EC 204-211-0
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: DIETHYLHEXYL PHTHALATE for cosmetic use.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
DIETHYLPHTHALATE
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: DIETHYLPHTHALATE in sunscreens, personal insect repellents or body lotion preparations for human use except in preparations containing 0.5% or less of diethylphthalate.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
DIISOBUTYL PHTHALATE
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: DIISOBUTYL PHTHALATE for cosmetic use.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
DIMETHYLPHTHALATE
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: DIMETHYLPHTHALATE in sunscreens, personal insect repellents or body lotion preparations for human use except in preparations containing 0.5% or less of dimethylphthalate.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
DISPERSE YELLOW 3
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: DISPERSE YELLOW 3 for use in hair dyes.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
ETHYLENE GLYCOL
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: ETHYLENE GLYCOL for use in toothpastes or mouthwashes except in preparations containing 0.25% or less of ethylene glycol.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
FORMALDEHYDE (excluding its derivatives)
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: FORMALDEHYDE (excluding its derivatives): (a) in oral hygiene preparations containing more than 0.1% of free formaldehyde; or (b) in aerosol sprays for cosmetic use containing 0.005% or more of free formaldehyde; or (c) in nail hardener cosmetic preparations containing 5% or more of free formaldehyde; or (d) in all other cosmetic preparations containing 0.05% or more of free formaldehyde except in preparations containing 0.2% or less of free formaldehyde when labelled with the warning statement: CONTAINS FORMALDEHYDE.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (excluding its derivatives)
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (excluding its derivatives) in non-polymerised form in preparations for domestic and cosmetic use.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE (excluding its salts and derivatives)
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: HYDROGEN PEROXIDE (excluding its salts and derivatives) in teeth whitening preparations containing more than 6% (20 volume) of hydrogen peroxide except in preparations manufactured for, and supplied solely by, registered dental practitioners as part of their dental practice.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
METHANOL
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: METHANOL in hand sanitiser preparations containing more than 5% methanol.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
METHYL METHACRYLATE
CAS 80-62-6 · EC 201-297-1
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: METHYL METHACRYLATE for cosmetic use except in preparations containing 1% or less of methyl methacrylate as residual monomer in a polymer.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
METHYLDIBROMO GLUTARONITRILE
CAS 35691-65-7 · EC 252-681-0
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: METHYLDIBROMO GLUTARONITRILE in preparations intended to be in contact with the skin, including cosmetic use.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
METHYLROSANILINIUM CHLORIDE (formerly known as crystal violet) and the following TRIARYLMETHANE DYES –
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: METHYLROSANILINIUM CHLORIDE (formerly known as crystal violet) and the following TRIARYLMETHANE DYES – for use in hair dyes: (a) Acid Violet 49; or (b) Ethyl Violet; or (c) Basic Blue 7; or (d) Basic Blue 26 (CI 44045).
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
PARAFORMALDEHYDE (excluding its derivatives)
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: PARAFORMALDEHYDE (excluding its derivatives): (a) in oral hygiene preparations containing more than 0.1% of free formaldehyde; or (b) in aerosol sprays for cosmetic use containing 0.005% or more of free formaldehyde; or (c) in nail hardener cosmetic preparations containing 5% or more of free formaldehyde; or (d) in all other cosmetic preparations containing 0.05% or more of free formaldehyde except in preparations containing 0.2% or less of free formaldehyde when labelled with the warning statement: CONTAINS FORMALDEHYDE.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
PHENYLENEDIAMINES, including alkylated, arylated, halogenated and nitro derivatives
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: PHENYLENEDIAMINES, including alkylated, arylated, halogenated and nitro derivatives, in preparations for skin colouration, tattooing and dyeing of eyelashes or eyebrows except when included in Schedule 6.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
TOLUENEDIAMINES
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: TOLUENEDIAMINES in preparations for skin colouration (including tattooing) and dyeing of eyelashes or eyebrows except when included in Schedule 6.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
o-ANISIDINE (excluding derivatives)
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: o-ANISIDINE (excluding derivatives) in preparations for skin colouration (including tattooing) and dyeing of hair, eyelashes or eyebrows except in preparations containing 0.001% or less of o-anisidine.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
o-TOLUIDINE (excluding derivatives)
The current Australian Poisons Standard places this cosmetic or personal-care use in Schedule 10.
Conditions: o-TOLUIDINE (excluding derivatives) in preparations for skin colouration (including tattooing) and dyeing of hair, eyelashes or eyebrows except in preparations containing 0.001% or less of o-toluidine.
Source:Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, Schedule 10 · version Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 · effective June 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-31
Market coverage contract
Complete cosmetic-relevant Poisons Standard subset plus official workflow- Included scope
- All 125 current Schedule 2, 4, 5, 6 and 10 entries whose legal wording explicitly covers cosmetics or personal-care uses, plus AICIS verification links.
- If no match is found
- An AICIS Inventory match is not cosmetic approval; no Inventory match can indicate a new, exempted, reported or confidential introduction.
Complete verification checklist
- Decide whether the product is a cosmetic or therapeutic good.
- Check the current Poisons Standard for every ingredient.
- Search AICIS Inventory terms and assessment certificates by exact identity.
- Determine introduction category, registration, reporting, records and labelling duties.
How Australia differs from other markets
Comparing this market's imported rules against every other market's for the same substance. A market with no imported rule for a substance is left out of that comparison rather than treated as permitting it.
A formula cleared elsewhere can fail here.
Permitted here under conditions and prohibited, or more tightly held, elsewhere — so a formula built for this market may not travel.
Official sources and legal role
Australia AICIS Inventory
Industrial chemical identity, listing terms and assessment links
Legal meaning: Not an allowed/banned cosmetics list; use for per-CAS enrichment and source links
Available language: English
Australia Poisons Standard (SUSMP)
All current Poisons Standard entries whose source wording explicitly covers cosmetics or personal-care uses
Legal meaning: Binding Commonwealth scheduling instrument; state and territory implementation and AICIS duties still apply
Available language: English
Australia AICIS banned or restricted chemicals guidance
Official explanation of distributed Commonwealth, state and territory chemical controls
Legal meaning: Workflow guidance, not an exhaustive ingredient list
Available language: English
What this market page can answer
Source and authority
Identify the official material and the regulator responsible for it: Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme.
Language and scope
See whether usable English or bilingual material exists and what the mapped source actually covers. Current source language: English.
Evidence status
Browse ingredient-level records imported from official sources. Each row states whether it passed deterministic source checks or human editorial review.
How to verify an ingredient for this market
- Search the ingredient by INCI name, CAS number or EC number and record the exact identity.
- Open each official source above and check the current version, product scope, concentration limits and required warnings.
- Confirm effective dates and whether an English text is official, reviewed or only contextual.
- Treat a missing local match as unknown, never as permission or a safety conclusion.