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 recordsPHENOXYISOPROPANOL
Only for rinse-off products
Source reference: Annex V, entry 43 · 09/11/2010
BEHENTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE (1) / CETRIMONIUM BROMIDE / CETRIMONIUM CHLORIDE (2)/ LAURTRIMONIUM BROMIDE / LAURTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE / STEARTRIMONIUM BROMIDE / STEARTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE (2)
Source reference: Annex V, entry 44 · 15/01/2015
DIMETHYL OXAZOLIDINE
pH > 6
Source reference: Annex V, entry 45 · 16/10/2010
HEXAMIDINE / HEXAMIDINE DIISETHIONATE / HEXAMIDINE DIPARABEN / HEXAMIDINE PARABEN
Source reference: Annex V, entry 47 · 25/10/2010
GLUTARAL
Not to be used in aerosols (sprays)
Source reference: Annex V, entry 48 · 25/10/2010
7-ETHYLBICYCLOOXAZOLIDINE
Not to be used in oral products and in products applied on mucous membranes
Source reference: Annex V, entry 49 · 02/08/2021
SODIUM HYDROXYMETHYLGLYCINATE
Not to be used if the maximum theoretical concentration of releasable formaldehyde, irrespective of the source, if the mixture as placed on the market is ≥ 0,1 % w/w
Source reference: Annex V, entry 51 · 04/11/2021
SILVER CHLORIDE
20% AgCl (w/w) on TiO2. Not to be used in products for children under 3 years of age, in oral products and in eye and lip products
Source reference: Annex V, entry 52 · 16/10/2010
Benzethonium Chloride
a) Rinse-off products b) Leave-on products other than oral products
Source reference: Annex V, entry 53 · 16/10/2010
BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE / BENZALKONIUM BROMIDE / BENZALKONIUM SACCHARINATE
Source reference: Annex V, entry 54 · 16/10/2010
BENZYLHEMIFORMAL
Rinse-off products
Source reference: Annex V, entry 55 · 02/08/2021
IODOPROPYNYL BUTYLCARBAMATE
Not to be used in oral and lip products a) Not to be used in products for children under 3 years of age, except in bath products / shower gels and shampoos b) Not to be used in body lotion and body cream (13) b) and c) Not to be used in products for children …
Source reference: Annex V, entry 56 · 16/10/2010
Ethyl-N-alpha-dodecanoyl-L-arginate hydrochloride
(a) Not to be used in preparations for children under 10 years of age (b) Not to be used in lip products, oral products (other than mouthwashes), and spray products
Source reference: Annex V, entry 58 · 27/07/2020
CITRIC ACID (AND) SILVER CITRATE
Not to be used in oral producrs and eye products
Source reference: Annex V, entry 59 · 06/08/2020
HYDROXYETHOXYPHENYL BUTANONE, HEPB
Allowed for use as a preservative in rinse off, oral care and leave-on cosmetic products at a maximum concentration of 0,7 % in ready for use preparation.
Source reference: Annex V, entry 60 · 27/07/2020
o-Phenylphenol, Sodium o-Phenylphenate
When o-Phenylphenol and Sodium o-Phenylphenate are used together, the combined concentration (as phenol) shall not exceed 0,2 % in rinse-off and 0,15 % in leave-on products. Not to be used in applications that may lead to exposure of the end-user’s lungs by i…
Source reference: Annex V, entry 7 · 15/01/2026
SODIUM SULFITE / AMMONIUM BISULFITE / AMMONIUM SULFITE / POTASSIUM SULFITE / POTASSIUM hydrogen SULFITE / SODIUM BISULFITE / SODIUM METABISULFITE / POTASSIUM METABISULFITE
Source reference: Annex V, entry 9 · 16/10/2010
OCTOCRYLENE
a) Propellant spray products b) Other products
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 10 · 31/01/2023
POLYACRYLAMIDOMETHYL BENZYLIDENE CAMPHOR
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 11 · 26/10/2010
ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 12 · 18/07/2019
Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 14 · 15/10/2010
DROMETRIZOLE TRISILOXANE
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 16 · 08/03/2011
DIETHYLHEXYL BUTAMIDO TRIAZONE
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 17 · 26/10/2010
Camphor benzalkonium methosulfate
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 2 · 15/10/2010
ETHYLHEXYL DIMETHYL PABA
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 21 · 26/10/2010
Benzophenone-4; Benzophenone-5
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 22 · 15/10/2010
METHYLENE BIS-BENZOTRIAZOLYL TETRAMETHYLBUTYLPHENOL
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 23 · 27/07/2020
METHYLENE BIS-BENZOTRIAZOLYL TETRAMETHYLBUTYLPHENOL (NANO)
Not to be used in applications that may lead to exposure of the end user's lungs by inhalation. Only nanomaterials having the following characteristics are allowed: — Purity ≥ 98,5 %, with 2,2′-methylene-bis- (6(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-(isooctyl)phenol) iso…
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 23a · 06/08/2020
DISODIUM PHENYL DIBENZIMIDAZOLE TETRASULFONATE
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 24 · 26/10/2010
BIS-ETHYLHEXYLOXYPHENOL METHOXYPHENYL TRIAZINE
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 25 · 08/03/2011
TITANIUM DIOXIDE
Titanium dioxide in powder form containing 1 % or more of particles with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 μm, to be used in compliance with Annex III, No 321. For the product types under letter (c) of column (f) in Annex III, No 321, the maximum concentration in rea…
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 27 · 21/06/2021
TITANIUM DIOXIDE (NANO)
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 27a · 28/07/2020
DIETHYLAMINO HYDROXYBENZOYL HEXYL BENZOATE
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 28 · 29/07/2013
TRIS-BIPHENYL TRIAZINE / TRIS-BIPHENYL TRIAZINE (NANO)
Not to be used in sprays. Only nanomaterials having the folloing characteristics are allowed: - Median primary particle size >80 nm; - Purity ≥ 98%; - Uncoated
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 29 · 10/10/2016
HOMOSALATE
From 1 January 2025 cosmetic products containing that substance and not complying with the conditions shall not be placed on the Union market. From 1 July 2025 cosmetic products containing that substance and not complying with the conditions shall not be made…
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 3 · 11/11/2022
PHENYLENE BIS-DIPHENYLTRIAZINE
Not to be used in applications that may lead to exposure of the end user's lungs by inhalation.
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 31 · 22/09/2021
Methoxypropylamino Cyclohexenylidene Ethoxyethylcyanoacetate
- Not to be used in applications that may lead to exposure of the end-user’s lungs by inhalation - Do not use with nitrosating agents - Maximum nitrosamine content: 50 μg/kg - Keep in nitrite-free containers
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 32 · 24/11/2020
BIS-(DIETHYLAMINOHYDROXYBENZOYL BENZOYL) PIPERAZINE
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 33 · 27/11/2022
BIS-(DIETHYLAMINOHYDROXYBENZOYL BENZOYL) PIPERAZINE (NANO)
Only nanomaterials having the following characteristics are allowed: — Purity ≥ 97 % —Median particle size D50 (50 % of the number below this diameter): ≥ 50 nm of number size distribution. Not to be used in applications that may lead to exposure of the end u…
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 34 · 27/11/2022
BENZOPHENONE-3
a) If used at 0,5 % to protect product formulation, the levels used as UV filter must not exceed 5,5 %. b) If used at 0,5 % to protect product formulation, the levels used as UV filter must not exceed 1,7 %.
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 4 · 29/07/2024
PHENYLBENZIMIDAZOLE SULFONIC ACID
Source reference: Annex VI, entry 6 · 08/03/2011
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.