European Union cosmetic ingredient regulations
EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009 annexes and the CosIng discovery database.
- Regulator
- European Commission
- Source language
- English and EU languages
- Coverage version
- Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 consolidated to 1 May 2026
What this list is
The EU list is not one list. Regulation 1223/2009 splits substances across five annexes that answer different questions, and reading the wrong one is the most common way to get an EU answer wrong.
- Annex II prohibits 1,739 substances outright.
- Annex III permits 373 substances only within stated limits, product types and warnings.
- Annexes IV, V and VI are positive lists: 154 colourants, 54 preservatives, 33 UV filters.
- For those three categories, absence from the annex means not permitted — the opposite of Annex II's logic.
- CosIng is a discovery database, not the law; the annexes as published are.
Most markets on this site publish one list. The EU publishes five, and they do not work the same way. Annex II names substances that may not be used at all. Annex III names substances that may be used, but only within a concentration limit, for stated product types, and often with a warning that must appear on the label. Annexes IV, V and VI are positive lists for colourants, preservatives and UV filters.
That last distinction reverses the logic and catches people out. For a substance in general, absence from Annex II is not permission — nothing has been decided about it. For a preservative, absence from Annex V is a decision: it may not be used as a preservative in a cosmetic product. The same silence means opposite things depending on which annex you are reading.
CosIng is worth naming separately, because it is what most searches land on. It is the Commission's database for finding ingredients and their annex references, and it is genuinely useful for that. It is not the legal text. When CosIng and the published annex disagree — usually because an amendment has come into force and the database has not caught up — the annex governs.
An Annex III entry is also more than a number. The limit, the product-type condition and the warning text travel together, and quoting the concentration without the condition it applies to produces an answer that is right about the figure and wrong about the product.
Checked against
Official ingredient records
2353 matching recordsCyproconazole (ISO); (2RS,3RS;2RS,3SR)-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-cyclopropyl-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)butan-2-ol
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1596 · 30/07/2020
Cadmium hydroxide; cadmium dihydroxide
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1599 · 30/07/2020
Alkyne alcohols, their esters, ethers and salts
Source reference: Annex II, entry 16 · 17/10/2010
5,5-Diphenyl-4-imidazolidone (Doxenitoin (INN))
Source reference: Annex II, entry 160 · 20/10/2010
Cadmium nitrate; cadmium dinitrate
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1600 · 30/07/2020
Dibutyltin dilaurate; dibutyl[bis(dodecanoyloxy)] stannane
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1601 · 30/07/2020
Clorofene; chlorophene; 2-benzyl-4-chlorophenol
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1602 · 30/07/2020
Anthraquinone; 9,10-anthraquinone
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1603 · 30/07/2020
Nonadecafluorodecanoic acid [1]; Ammonium nonadecafluorodecanoate [2]; Sodium nonadecafluorodecanoate [3]
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1604 · 30/07/2020
N,N'-Methylenedimorpholine; N,N'-methylenebismorpholine; [formaldehyde released from N,N'-Methylenebismorpholine]; [MBM] if the maximum theoretical concentration of releasable formaldehyde, irrespective of the source, in the mixture as placed on the market is = 0,1 % w/w
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1605 · 30/07/2020
Reaction products of paraformaldehyde with 2-hydroxypropylamine (3:2); [formaldehyde released from 3,3'-methylenebis[5–methyloxazolidine]; [formaldehyde released from oxazolidin]; [MBO] if the maximum theoretical concentration of releasable formaldehyde, irrespective of the source, in the mixture as placed on the market is = 0,1 % w/w
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1606 · 30/07/2020
Reaction products of paraformaldehyde with 2-hydroxypropylamine (1:1)); [formaldehyde released from a,a,a-trimethyl-1,3,5-triazine-1,3,5(2H,4H,6H)-triethanol]; [HPT] if the maximum theoretical concentration of releasable formaldehyde, irrespective of the source, in the mixture as placed on the market is = 0,1 % w/w
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1607 · 30/07/2020
Triadimenol (ISO); (1RS,2RS;1RS,2SR)-1-(4-chlorophenoxy)-3,3-dimethyl-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)butan-2-ol; a-tert-butyl-ß-(4-chlorophenoxy)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-ethanol
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1609 · 30/07/2020
Thiacloprid (ISO); (Z)-3-(6-chloro-3-pyridyl-methyl)-1-3-thiazolidin-2-ylidenecyanamide; {(2Z)-3-[(6-chloropyridin-3-yl)methyl]-1,3-thiazolidin-2-ylidene}cyanamide
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1610 · 30/07/2020
Carbetamide (ISO); (R)-1-(ethylcarbamoyl) ethyl-carbanilate; (2R)-1-(ethylamino) -1-oxopro-pan-2-yl-phenylcarbamate
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1611 · 30/07/2020
Phosmet (ISO); S-[(1,3-dioxo-1,3-dihydro-2H- isoindol-2-yl)methyl]-O,O-dimethyl phosphorodithioate; O,O-dimethyl-S-phthalimidomethyl phosphorodithioate
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1612 · 31/07/2020
Potassium permanganate
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1613 · 31/07/2020
2-Benzyl-2-dimethylamino-4'- morpholinobutyrophenone
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1614 · 31/07/2020
Quizalofop-p-tefuryl (ISO); (+/–) tetrahydrofurfuryl (R)-2-[4-(6- chloroquinoxalin-2-yloxy)phenyloxy]propionate
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1615 · 31/07/2020
Propiconazole (ISO); (2RS,4RS;2RS,4SR)-1-{[2-(2,4- dichlorophenyl)-4-propyl-1,3- dioxolan-2-yl]methyl}-1H- 1,2,4-triazole
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1616 · 31/07/2020
Pinoxaden (ISO); 8-(2,6-diethyl-4-methylphenyl)-7-oxo-1,2,4,5-tetrahydro-7H-pyrazolo[1,2-d][1,4,5]oxadiazepin-9-yl 2,2-dimethylpropanoate
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1617 · 31/07/2020
Tetramethrin; (1-Cyclohexene-1,2-Dicarboximido)Methyl Chrysanthemate; 2,2-Dimethyl-3-(2-Methyl-1-Propenyl)Cyclopropanecarboxylic Acid (1,3,4,5,6,7-Hexahydro-1,3-Dioxo-2H-Isoindol-2-yl)Methyl Ester
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1618 · 31/07/2020
(1,3,4,5,6,7-Hexahydro-1,3-dioxo-2H-isoindol-2-yl)methyl (1R-trans)-2,2-dimethyl-3-(2- methylprop-1-enyl)cyclopropanecarboxylate
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1619 · 31/07/2020
Disulfiram (INN); thiram (ISO) (INN)
Source reference: Annex II, entry 162 · 20/10/2010
Spirodiclofen (ISO); 3-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-oxo- 1-oxaspiro[4.5]dec-3-en-4-yl 2,2-dimethylbutyrate
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1620 · 31/07/2020
Reaction mass of 1-[2-(2-aminobutoxy)ethoxy]but-2-ylamine and 1-({[2-(2-aminobutoxy)ethoxy]methyl}propoxy) but-2-ylamine
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1621 · 31/07/2020
Amisulbrom (ISO)3-(3-bromo-6-fluoro-2-methylindol-1-ylsulfonyl)-N,N-dimethyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-sulfonamide
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1623 · 31/07/2020
Pirimicarb (ISO); 2-(dimethylamino)-5,6-dimethylpyrimidin-4-yl dimethylcarbamate
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1624 · 03/08/2020
1,2-Dichloropropane; propylene dichloride
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1625 · 03/08/2020
Phenol, dodecyl-, branched [1]; Phenol, 2-dodecyl-, branched [2]; Phenol, 3-dodecyl-, branched [3]; Phenol, 4-dodecyl-, branched [4]; Phenol, (tetrapropenyl) derivatives [5]
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1626 · 27/07/2020
Coumatetralyl (ISO); 4- hydroxy-3-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthyl) coumarin
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1627 · 03/08/2020
Difenacoum (ISO); 3-(3- biphenyl-4-yl-1,2,3,4- tetrahydro-1-naphthyl)- 4-hydroxycoumarin
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1628 · 03/08/2020
Brodifacoum (ISO); 4-hydroxy-3-(3-(4′-bromo-4-biphenylyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthyl)coumarin
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1629 · 03/08/2020
Emetine, its salts and derivatives
Source reference: Annex II, entry 163 · 15/10/2010
Flocoumafen (ISO); reaction mass of: cis-4- hydroxy-3-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-3-(4-(4-trifluoromethylbenzyloxy)phenyl)-1-naphthyl)coumarin and trans-4-hydroxy-3-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-3-(4-(4-trifluoromethylbenzyloxy)phenyl)-1-naphthyl)coumarin
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1630 · 03/08/2020
Acetochlor (ISO); 2- chloro-N-(ethoxymethyl)-N-(2-ethyl-6- methylphenyl)acetamide
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1631 · 03/08/2020
e-Glass microfibres of representative composition
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1632 · 03/08/2020
Glass microfibres of representative composition
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1633 · 03/08/2020
Bromadiolone (ISO); 3- [3-(4′-bromobiphenyl- 4-yl)-3-hydroxy-1-phenylpropyl]-4-hydroxy- 2H-chromen-2-one
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1634 · 03/08/2020
Difethialone (ISO); 3-[3-(4′-bromobiphenyl-4-yl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-yl]- 4-hydroxy-2H-1-benzothiopyran-2-one
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1635 · 03/08/2020
Perfluorononan-1-oic acid [1] and its sodium [2] and ammonium [3] salts
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1636 · 03/08/2020
Dicyclohexyl phthalate
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1637 · 04/08/2020
3,7-Dimethylocta-2,6- dienenitrile
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1638 · 04/08/2020
Bupirimate (ISO); 5-butyl-2-ethylamino-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl dimethylsulfamate
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1639 · 04/08/2020
Ephedrine and its salts
Source reference: Annex II, entry 164 · 15/10/2010
Market coverage contract
Complete annex dataset- Included scope
- Annexes II–VI: prohibited and restricted substances, colourants, preservatives and UV filters.
- If no match is found
- No annex match only means that these five annexes did not return a match; CosIng identity data and other EU obligations still need review.
Complete verification checklist
- Confirm the exact INCI/CAS/EC identity.
- Review every matching Annex II–VI row and its conditions.
- Check SCCS opinions, CMR/nanomaterial rules and later amendments.
- Verify product classification, claims, labelling and responsible-person duties.
How European Union 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.
and 22 more — see the full comparison
Permitted here under conditions and prohibited, or more tightly held, elsewhere — so a formula built for this market may not travel.
and 103 more — see the full comparison
Official sources and legal role
PubChem PUG-View annotations
Attributed physical-property, hazard, environmental, use and literature annotations for uniquely matched PubChem compounds
Legal meaning: Scientific context aggregated by PubChem; individual values retain their named depositor or publication source
EMBL-EBI ChEBI 2.0
Curated definitions, chemical classes, roles, names, relationships and cross-references
Legal meaning: Curated scientific ontology; not a cosmetics permission or prohibition list
FDA Global Substance Registration System
UNII identifiers, preferred names, substance types, codes and public substance relationships
Legal meaning: Identity registry only; UNII availability does not imply FDA review or approval
Cosmetic Ingredient Review safety assessments
Expert Panel conclusions, assessed ingredient groups, use conditions, dates and report documents
Legal meaning: Independent expert review considered by FDA; not a government approval or binding market rule
EU Safety Gate cosmetic product alerts
Published cosmetic product alerts, notifying country, risk, product identifiers and corrective measures
Legal meaning: Official market-surveillance alerts; not proof that a named ingredient caused an incident
Available language: English and EU languages
What this market page can answer
Source and authority
Identify the official material and the regulator responsible for it: European Commission.
Language and scope
See whether usable English or bilingual material exists and what the mapped source actually covers. Current source language: English and EU languages.
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.