Japan cosmetic ingredient regulations
The Standards for Cosmetics include prohibited and restricted ingredient appendices.
- Regulator
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
- Source language
- Japanese; official English translation available
- Coverage version
- MHLW Standards for Cosmetics official English source and Japanese amendments checked for the imported snapshot
What this list is
Japan's Standards for Cosmetics take the opposite approach to an EU annex: a short list of prohibited and restricted substances, plus positive lists for preservatives, UV filters and tar colours, and freedom elsewhere.
- 117 Japanese records: 87 restricted, 30 prohibited.
- Preservatives, UV filters and tar colours are positive-listed — outside those lists they may not be used.
- Ingredients outside the restricted lists need no approval, and the manufacturer carries responsibility for safety.
- Quasi-drugs are a separate category with its own approval route, and are not covered by this list.
The Standards for Cosmetics, issued by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, are deliberately short. They name substances that must not be used, substances that may be used within stated limits, and — for three categories — the only substances that may be used at all. Preservatives, ultraviolet absorbers and tar colours are positive-listed, so for those three, a substance that is not on the list is not permitted. Everything outside that structure is left to the manufacturer, who is responsible for the product's safety.
The 117 records here are that framework, which is why the count looks small next to the EU's several thousand. It is not partial coverage. A framework that lists what is forbidden produces a short list by design.
One distinction catches importers out. Japan separates cosmetics from quasi-drugs — products making claims such as anti-perspirant, whitening or anti-acne — and quasi-drugs run through their own approval route with their own permitted-ingredient rules. A formula that is a cosmetic in the EU may be a quasi-drug in Japan on the strength of its claim alone, and this list will not answer for it.
Checked against
Official ingredient records
30 matching records6-Acetoxy-2,4-dimethyl-m-dioxane
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: 6-Acetoxy-2,4-dimethyl-m-dioxane
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 1 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Antihistamines except those of aminoether type (such as diphenhydramine)
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Antihistamines except those of aminoether type (such as diphenhydramine)
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 2 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Bismuth compounds other than bismuth oxychloride
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Bismuth compounds other than bismuth oxychloride
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 6 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Bithionol
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Bithionol
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 21 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Boric acid
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Boric acid
CAS 10043-35-3 / 11113-50-1 · EC 233-139-2 / 234-343-4
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 28 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Cadmium compounds
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Cadmium compounds
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 8 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Chloroform
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Chloroform
CAS 67-66-3 · EC 200-663-8
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 10 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Dichlorophene
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Dichlorophene
CAS 97-23-4 · EC 202-567-1
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 12 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Formalin
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Formalin
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 29 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Halogenated salicylanilide
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Halogenated salicylanilide
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 19 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Hexachlorophen
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Hexachlorophen
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 27 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Hormones and those derivatives except estradiol, estrone and ethinylestradiol
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Hormones and those derivatives except estradiol, estrone and ethinylestradiol
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 3 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Hydrogen peroxide
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Hydrogen peroxide
CAS 7722-84-1 · EC 231-765-0
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 7 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Hydroquinone monobenzylether
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Hydroquinone monobenzylether
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 18 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Inorganic fluorine compounds
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Inorganic fluorine compounds
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 24 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Local anesthetics such as procaine
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Local anesthetics such as procaine
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 26 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Mercury and its compounds
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Mercury and its compounds
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 13 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Methyl alcohol
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Methyl alcohol
CAS 67-56-1 · EC 200-659-6
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 30 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Methylene chloride
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Methylene chloride
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 5 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Nitrofuran type compounds
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Nitrofuran type compounds
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 17 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Pilocalpine
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Pilocalpine
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 22 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Pregnanediol
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Pregnanediol
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 25 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Progrenolone acetate
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Progrenolone acetate
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 11 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Pyrogallol
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Pyrogallol
CAS 87-66-1
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 23 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Selenium compounds
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Selenium compounds
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 16 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Sodium perborate
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Sodium perborate
CAS 15120-21-5 / 7632-04-4 / 11138-47-9 · EC 239-172-9 / 231-556-4 / 234-390-0
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 9 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Strontium compounds
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Strontium compounds
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 14 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Sulfamide and its derivatives
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Sulfamide and its derivatives
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 15 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Vinyl chloride monomer
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Vinyl chloride monomer
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 4 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Vitamin L1 and Vitamin L2
Japan Standards for Cosmetics: Vitamin L1 and Vitamin L2
The provisional English translation of the MHLW Standards for Cosmetics lists this material in Appendix 1.
Conditions: Prohibited material
Source:Appendix 1, entry 20 · version MHLW Notification No. 331 provisional translation, retrieved 2026-08-30 · source checked 2026-08-30
Market coverage contract
Complete Standards appendices dataset- Included scope
- Prohibited ingredients, restricted ingredients and permitted preservative/UV/colourant appendices present in the official standard source.
- If no match is found
- The Japanese text and subsequent notices are canonical; no local match is not a product-compliance conclusion.
Complete verification checklist
- Search Japanese/English identity and CAS where present.
- Apply category and maximum-amount conditions.
- Check later MHLW notices against the Japanese source.
- Verify marketing licence, notification, labelling and quasi-drug classification.
How Japan 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
Japan MHLW Standards for Cosmetics
Prohibited and restricted ingredient appendices with concentration and use conditions
Legal meaning: Official MHLW standard; validate later Japanese updates before presenting current status
Available language: English translation; Japanese source remains canonical
What this market page can answer
Source and authority
Identify the official material and the regulator responsible for it: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
Language and scope
See whether usable English or bilingual material exists and what the mapped source actually covers. Current source language: Japanese; official English translation available.
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.