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 recordsDIMETHYLOL ETHYLENE THIOUREA
(a) Not to be used in aerosol dispensers (sprays) (b) pH < 4
Source reference: Annex III, entry 44 · 17/10/2010
BENZYL ALCOHOL
For purposes other than inhibiting the development of microorganisms in the product. This purpose has to be apparent from the presentation of the product. The presence of the substance shall be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1)…
Source reference: Annex III, entry 45 · 03/10/2023
6-Methylcoumarin
The presence of the substance shall be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1), point (g), when its concentration exceeds: — 0,001 % in leave-on products — 0,01 % in rinse-off products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 46 · 11/09/2023
NICOMETHANOL HYDROFLUORIDE
Oral products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 47 · 14/05/2013
SILVER NITRATE
Only for colouring eyelashes and eyebrows
Source reference: Annex III, entry 48 · 17/10/2010
Selenium disulphide
Antidandruff shampoos
Source reference: Annex III, entry 49 · 17/10/2010
Aluminium zirconium chloride hydroxide complexes AlxZr(OH)yClz and the aluminium zirconium chloride hydroxide glycine complexes
1. The ratio of the number of aluminium atoms to that of zirconium atoms must be between 2 and 10 2. The ratio of the number of (Al+Zr) atoms to that of chlorine atoms must be between 0.9 and 2.1 3. Not to be used in aerosols dispensers (sprays)
Source reference: Annex III, entry 50 · 17/10/2010
OXYQUINOLINE SULFATE
(a) Stabilizer for hydrogen peroxide in rinse-off hair products (b) Stabilizer for hydrogen peroxide in leave-on hair products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 51 · 31/07/2020
METHYL ALCOHOL
Denaturant for ethanol and isopropyl alcohol
Source reference: Annex III, entry 52 · 17/10/2010
Etidronic acid
(a) Hair product (b) Soap
Source reference: Annex III, entry 53 · 17/10/2010
1-Phenoxypropan-2-ol (8)
For purposes other than inhibiting the development of micro-organisms in the product. This purpose has to be apparent from the presentation of the product
Source reference: Annex III, entry 54 · 09/11/2010
MAGNESIUM FLUORIDE
Oral products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 56 · 14/05/2013
STRONTIUM CHLORIDE
(a) Oral products (b) Shampoo and face products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 57 · 17/10/2010
STRONTIUM ACETATE
Oral products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 58 · 17/10/2010
TALC
(a) Powdery products intended to be used for children under 3 years of age (b) Other products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 59 · 22/10/2024
POTASSIUM CHLORATE / SODIUM CHLORATE
(a) Toothpaste (b) Other products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 6 · 04/11/2010
Fatty acid dialkylamides and dialkanolamides
- Do not use with nitrosating systems - Maximum secondary amine content: 5% (applies to raw materials) - Maximum nitrosamine content: 50 microgram/kg - Keep in nitrite-free containers
Source reference: Annex III, entry 60 · 20/01/2023
Monoalkylamines, monoalkanolamines and their salts
- Do not use with nitrosating systems - Minimum purity: 99% - Maximum secondary amine content: 0.5% (applies to raw materials) - Maximum nitrosamine content: 50 microgram/kg - Keep in nitrite-free containers
Source reference: Annex III, entry 61 · 18/06/2019
Trialkylamines, trialkanolamines and their salts
(a) (b) - Do not use with nitrosating systems - Minimum purity: 99% - Maximum secondary amine content: 0.5% (applies to raw materials) - Maximum nitrosamine content: 50 microgram/kg - Keep in nitrite-free containers
Source reference: Annex III, entry 62 · 17/10/2010
STRONTIUM HYDROXIDE
pH
Source reference: Annex III, entry 63 · 17/10/2010
Strontium peroxide
All products must meet the hydrogen peroxide release requirements Professional use
Source reference: Annex III, entry 64 · 17/10/2010
BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE / BENZALKONIUM BROMIDE / BENZALKONIUM SACCHARINATE
In the final products the concentrations of benzalkonium chloride, bromide and saccharinate with an alkyl chain of C14, or less must not exceed 0.1% (as benzalkonium chloride) For purposes other than inhibiting the development of micro-organismes in the produ…
Source reference: Annex III, entry 65 · 04/11/2010
Polyacrylamides
(a) Maximum residual acrylamide content 0.1mg/kg (b) Maximum residual acrylamide content 0.5mg/kg
Source reference: Annex III, entry 66 · 17/10/2010
Amyl cinnamal
The presence of the substance must be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1)g when its concentration exceeds: - 0.001% in leave-on products - 0.01% in rinse-off products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 67 · 17/10/2010
Cinnamyl alcohol
The presence of the substance must be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1)g when its concentration exceeds: - 0.001% in leave-on products - 0.01% in rinse-off products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 69 · 17/10/2010
Citral; Geranial; Neral
The presence of the substance or substances shall be indicated as ‘Citral’ in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1), point (g), when the concentration of the substance or substances exceeds: — 0,001 % in leave-on products — 0,01 % in rinse-off …
Source reference: Annex III, entry 70 · 11/09/2023
Eugenol
The presence of the substance must be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1)g when its concentration exceeds: - 0.001% in leave-on products - 0.01% in rinse-off products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 71 · 17/10/2010
HYDROXYCITRONELLAL
(a) (b) The presence of the substance must be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1)(g) when its concentration exceeds: — 0,001 % in leave-on products — 0,01 % in rinse-off products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 72 · 14/05/2013
ISOEUGENOL
(a) (b) The presence of the substance shall be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1), point (g), when its concentration exceeds: — 0,001 % in leave-on products — 0,01 % in rinse-off products.
Source reference: Annex III, entry 73 · 11/09/2023
Amylcinnamyl alcohol
The presence of the substance must be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1)g when its concentration exceeds: - 0.001% in leave-on products - 0.01% in rinse-off products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 74 · 17/10/2010
Benzyl salicylate
The presence of the substance must be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1)g when its concentration exceeds: - 0.001% in leave-on products - 0.01% in rinse-off products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 75 · 02/08/2024
Cinnamal
The presence of the substance must be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 6(1)g when its concentration exceeds: - 0.001% in leave-on products - 0.01% in rinse-off products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 76 · 17/10/2010
Coumarin
The presence of the substance must be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1)g when its concentration exceeds: - 0.001% in leave-on products - 0.01% in rinse-off products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 77 · 17/10/2010
Geraniol
The presence of the substance must be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1)g when its concentration exceeds: - 0.001% in leave-on products - 0.01% in rinse-off products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 78 · 17/10/2010
N-substituted derivatives of p- Phenylenediamine and their salts; N- substituted derivatives of o-Phenylenediamine (1 ), with exception of those derivatives listed elsewhere in this Annex and under reference numbers 1309, 1311, and 1312 in Annex II
(1 ) These substances may be used singly or in combination provided that the sum of the ratios of the levels of each of them in the cosmetic product expressed with reference to the maximum level authorised for each of them does not exceed 1.’
Source reference: Annex III, entry 8 · 17/06/2014
ANISe ALCOHOL
The presence of the substance must be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1)g when its concentration exceeds: - 0.001% in leave-on products - 0.01% in rinse-off products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 80 · 04/11/2010
Benzyl cinnamate
The presence of the substance must be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1)g when its concentration exceeds: - 0.001% in leave-on products - 0.01% in rinse-off products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 81 · 17/10/2010
Farnesol
The presence of the substance must be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1)g when its concentration exceeds: - 0.001% in leave-on products - 0.01% in rinse-off products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 82 · 17/10/2010
Linalool
The presence of the substance must be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1)g when its concentration exceeds: - 0.001% in leave-on products - 0.01% in rinse-off products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 84 · 17/10/2010
Benzyl benzoate
The presence of the substance must be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1)g when its concentration exceeds: - 0.001% in leave-on products - 0.01% in rinse-off products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 85 · 17/10/2010
Citronellol
The presence of the substance shall be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1), point (g), when its concentration exceeds: — 0,001 % in leave-on products — 0,01 % in rinse-off products.
Source reference: Annex III, entry 86 · 11/09/2023
HEXYL CINNAMAL
The presence of the substance must be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1)g when its concentration exceeds: - 0.001% in leave-on products - 0.01% in rinse-off products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 87 · 17/10/2010
Limonene
The presence of the substance shall be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1), point (g), when its concentration exceeds: — 0,001 % in leave-on products — 0,01 % in rinse-off products. The peroxide value for each substance shall be …
Source reference: Annex III, entry 88 · 11/09/2023
Methyl 2-Octynoate
(a)(b) The presence of the substance must be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1)(g) when its concentration exceeds: - 0.001% in leave-on products - 0.01% in rinse-off products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 89 · 17/05/2013
p-Phenylenediamine and its salts
(a) General use (b) Professional use For (a) and (b): After mixing under oxidative conditions the maximum concentration applied to hair must not exceed 2 % calculated as free base
Source reference: Annex III, entry 8a · 03/03/2015
p-Phenylenediamine; p-Phenylenediamine HCl; p-Phenylenediamine Sulphate
After mixing under oxidative conditions the maximum concentration applied to eyelashes must not exceed 2 % calculated as free base. For professional use only.
Source reference: Annex III, entry 8b · 12/02/2014
N,N'-BIS(2-HYDROXYETHYL)-2-NITRO-P-PHENYLENEDIAMINE
(a) As from 3 September 2017, after mixing under oxidative conditions the maximum concentration applied to hair must not exceed 1,0 % For (a) and (b), as from 3 September 2017: — Do not use with nitrosating agents — Maximum nitrosamine content: 50 μg/kg …
Source reference: Annex III, entry 8c · 28/07/2020
Methylphenylenediamines, their N-substituted derivatives and their salts (1) with the exception of the substance under reference number 9a in this annex and substances under reference numbers 364, 1310 and 1313 in Annex II
Hair dye substance in oxidative hair dye products
Source reference: Annex III, entry 9 · 17/06/2014
Methylphenylenediamines, their N- substituted derivatives and their salts (1), with the exception of the substance listed under reference numbers 9 a and 9 b of this Annex and the substances listed under reference numbers 364, 413, 1144, 1310, 1313 and 1507 of Annex II
(a) General use (b) Professional use For (a) and (b): After mixing under oxidative conditions the maximum concentration applied to hair must not exceed 5 % calculated as free base
Source reference: Annex III, entry 9 · 04/12/2019
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.