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 records1-Amino-4-[[4-[(dimethylamino)methyl]phenyl]amino]anthraquinone and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1278 · 21/10/2010
Laccaic acid (CI Natural Red 25) and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1279 · 21/10/2010
2-Diethylaminoethyl 3-hydroxy-4-phenylbenzoate and its salts
Source reference: Annex II, entry 128 · 15/10/2010
Benzenesulfonic acid, 5-[(2,4-dinitrophenyl]amino]-2-(phenylamino)-, and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1280 · 21/10/2010
4-[(4-Nitrophenyl)azo]aniline (Disperse Orange 3) and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1281 · 09/09/2020
4-Nitro-m-phenylenediamine and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1282 · 21/10/2010
1-Amino-4-(methylamino)-9,10-anthracenedione (Disperse Violet 4) and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1283 · 21/10/2010
N-Methyl-3-nitro-p-phenylenediamine and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1284 · 21/10/2010
N1-(2-Hydroxyethyl)-4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine (HC Yellow No 5) and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1285 · 21/10/2010
N1-(Tris(hydroxymethyl))methyl-4-nitro-1,2-phenylenediamine (HC Yellow No 3) and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1286 · 21/10/2010
2-Nitro-N-hydroxyethyl-p-anisidine and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1287 · 21/10/2010
N,N'-Dimethyl-N-hydroxyethyl-3-nitro-p-phenylenediamine and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1288 · 21/10/2010
3-(N-Methyl-N-(4-methylamino-3-nitrophenyl)amino)propane-1,2-diol and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1289 · 21/10/2010
Cinchocaine (INN) and its salts
Source reference: Annex II, entry 129 · 20/10/2010
4-Ethylamino-3-nitrobenzoic acid (N-Ethyl-3-Nitro PABA) and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1290 · 21/10/2010
(8-[(4-Amino-2-nitrophenyl)azo]-7-hydroxy-2-naphthyl)trimethylammonium and its salts, (except Basic Red 118 as impurity in Basic brown 17), when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1291 · 21/10/2010
5-((4-(Dimethylamino)phenyl)azo)-1,4-dimethyl-1H-1,2,4-triazolium and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1292 · 21/10/2010
m-Phenylenediamine, 4-(phenylazo)-, and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1293 · 07/01/2011
1,3-Benzenediamine, 4-methyl-6-(phenylazo)- and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1294 · 15/10/2010
2,7-Naphthalenedisulfonic acid, 5-(acetylamino)-4-hydroxy-3-((2-methylphenyl)azo)- and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1295 · 21/10/2010
4,4'-[(4-Methyl-1,3-phenylene)bis(azo)]bis[6-methyl-1,3-benzenediamine] (Basic Brown 4) and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1296 · 21/10/2010
Benzenaminium, 3-[[(4-[[diamino(phenylazo)phenyl]azo]-2-methylphenyl]azo]-N,N,N-trimethyl- and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1297 · 21/10/2010
Benzenaminium, 3-[[(4-[[diamino(phenylazo)phenyl]azo]-1-naphthalenyl]azo]-N,N,N-trimethyl- and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1298 · 15/10/2010
Ethanaminium, N-(4-[(4-(diethylamino)phenyl)phenylmethylene]-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-ylidine)-N-ethyl- and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1299 · 21/10/2010
Adonis vernalis L. and its preparations
Source reference: Annex II, entry 13 · 15/10/2010
3-Diethylaminopropyl cinnamate
Source reference: Annex II, entry 130 · 15/10/2010
9,10-Anthracenedione, 1-[(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-4-(methylamino)-, and its derivatives and salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1300 · 21/10/2010
1,4-Diamino-2-methoxy-9,10-anthracenedione (Disperse Red 11) and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1301 · 21/10/2010
1,4-Dihydroxy-5,8-bis[(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]anthraquinone (Disperse Blue 7) and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1302 · 21/10/2010
1-[(3-Aminopropyl)amino]-4-(methylamino)anthraquinone and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1303 · 15/10/2010
N-[6-[(2-Chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)imino]-4-methoxy-3-oxo-1,4-cyclohexadien-1-yl]acetamide (HC Yellow No 8) and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1304 · 21/10/2010
[6-[[3-Chloro-4-(methylamino)phenyl]imino]-4-methyl-3-oxocyclohexa-1,4-dien-1-yl]urea (HC Red No 9) and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1305 · 21/10/2010
Phenothiazin-5-ium, 3,7-bis(dimethylamino)- and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1306 · 15/10/2010
4,6-Bis(2-hydroxyethoxy)-m-phenylenediamine and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1307 · 15/10/2010
5-Amino-2,6-dimethoxy-3-hydroxypyridine and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1308 · 21/10/2010
4,4'-Diaminodiphenylamine and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1309 · 21/10/2010
O,O'-Diethyl-O-4-nitrophenyl phosphorothioate (Parathion - ISO)
Source reference: Annex II, entry 131 · 20/10/2010
4-Diethylamino-o-toluidine and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1310 · 21/10/2010
N,N-Diethyl-p-phenylenediamine and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1311 · 21/10/2010
N,N-Dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1312 · 21/10/2010
Toluene-3,4-diamine and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1313 · 21/10/2010
2,4-Diamino-5-methylphenoxyethanol and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1314 · 21/10/2010
6-Amino-o-cresol and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1315 · 21/10/2010
Hydroxyethylaminomethyl-p-aminophenol and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1316 · 21/10/2010
2-Amino-3-nitrophenol and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1317 · 21/10/2010
2-Chloro-5-nitro-N-hydroxyethyl-p-phenylenediamine and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1318 · 21/10/2010
2-Nitro-p-phenylenediamine and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1319 · 08/12/2010
[Oxalylbis(iminoethylene)]bis[(o-chlorobenzyl)diethylammonium] salts, e.g. ambenonium chloride (INN)
Source reference: Annex II, entry 132 · 15/10/2010
Hydroxyethyl-2,6-dinitro-p-anisidine and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1320 · 21/10/2010
6-Nitro-2,5-pyridinediamine and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products
Source reference: Annex II, entry 1321 · 21/10/2010
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.