Permitted preservatives in EU cosmetics — Annex V of EU Regulation 1223/2009
About Annex V
Annex V of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 lists the preservatives authorised for use in cosmetic products in the European Union. Only preservatives included in this annex may be used to inhibit the development of micro-organisms in cosmetics. Each entry defines the maximum permitted concentration, the product categories in which it may be used, the applicable specific conditions, and any mandatory labelling warnings. Modifications to this annex are published periodically in the Official Journal of the EU following an opinion from the SCCS (Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety) and are automatically reflected in this database. BD-API synchronises these updates on a continuous scheduled basis and allows manufacturers and Responsible Persons to verify in real time whether their formulations comply with the current conditions of Annex V, integrating CosIng information into their audit and quality control workflows.
Not sure how to interpret the columns (Ref. No., Max conc.)? → Guide: how to read the annexes step by stepIngredients of Annex V(first 100 of 58)
| Name | Function(s) | Ref. No. | Max conc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| CITRIC ACID (AND) SILVER CITRATE | — | 59 | 0,2% corresponding to 0,0024% of silver |
| DMDM HYDANTOIN | — | 33 | 0.6% |
| CLIMBAZOLE | — | 32 | (a) 0,2 % (b) 0,2 % (c) 0,2 % (d) 0,5 % |
| Triclocarban | — | 23 | 0,2 % |
| 1-Hydroxy-4-methyl-6-(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)-2 pyridon, piroctone olamine | — | 35 | a) 1.0% b) 0.5% |
| PHENOXYISOPROPANOL | — | 43 | 1.0% |
| BROMOCHLOROPHENE | — | 37 | 0.1% |
| DICHLOROBENZYL ALCOHOL | — | 22 | 0.15% |
| METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE | — | 57 | 0,0015 % Rinse-off products |
| PHENOXYETHANOL | — | 29 | 1.0% |
| Dibromohexamidine isethionate | — | 15 | 0.1% |
| chlorphenesin | — | 50 | 0.3% |
| Dehydroacetic acid / SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE | — | 13 | 0.6% (as acid) |
| IODOPROPYNYL BUTYLCARBAMATE | — | 56 | a) 0.02% b) 0.01% c) 0.0075% |
| DIMETHYL OXAZOLIDINE | — | 45 | 0.1% |
| HYDROXYETHOXYPHENYL BUTANONE, HEPB | — | 60 | 0.7 % |
| 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID / METHYLPARABEN /POTASSIUM ETHYLPARABEN /POTASSIUM PARABEN /SODIUM METHYLPARABEN /SODIUM ETHYLPARABEN /ETHYLPARABEN /SODIUM PARABEN / POTASSIUM METHYLPARABEN / CALCIUM PARABEN | — | 12 | 0,4% (as acid) for single ester 0,8% (as acid) for mixtures of esters |
| O-CYMEN-5-OL | — | 38 | 0.1% |
| 5-BROMO-5-NITRO-1,3-DIOXANE | — | 20 | 0.1% |
| Triclosan | — | 25 | 0.3% |
| 7-ETHYLBICYCLOOXAZOLIDINE | — | 49 | 0.3% |
| Hexetidine | — | 19 | 0.1% |
| BEHENTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE (1) / CETRIMONIUM BROMIDE / CETRIMONIUM CHLORIDE (2)/ LAURTRIMONIUM BROMIDE / LAURTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE / STEARTRIMONIUM BROMIDE / STEARTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE (2) | — | 44 | 0.1% |
| BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE / BENZALKONIUM BROMIDE / BENZALKONIUM SACCHARINATE | — | 54 | 0.1% (as benzalkonium chloride) |
| HEXAMIDINE / HEXAMIDINE DIISETHIONATE / HEXAMIDINE DIPARABEN / HEXAMIDINE PARABEN | — | 47 | 0.1% |
| Benzethonium Chloride | — | 53 | 0.1% |
| BENZOIC ACID; SODIUM BENZOATE | — | 1 | a) 2.5% (acid) b) 1.7% (acid) c) 0.5% (acid) |
| BENZYL ALCOHOL | — | 34 | 1.0% |
| o-Phenylphenol, Sodium o-Phenylphenate | — | 7 | (a) 0,2 % (as phenol (b) 0,15 % (as phenol) |
| 2-BROMO-2-NITROPROPANE-1,3-DIOL | — | 21 | 0.1% |
| BUTYLPARABEN/PROPYLPARABEN/SODIUM PROPOYLPARABEN/SODIUM BUTYLPARABEN/POTASSIUM BUTYLPARABEN/POTASSIUM PROPYLPARABEN | — | 12 a | - 0,14% (as acid) for the sum of the individual concentrations - 0,8% (as acid) for mixtures of substances mentioned in entry 12 and 12a, here the sum of the individual concentrations of butyl and propylparaben and their salts does not exceed 0,14% |
| CHLOROBUTANOL | — | 11 | 0.5% |
| P-CHLORO-M-CRESOL | — | 24 | 0.2% |
| CHLOROXYLENOL | — | 26 | 0.5% |
| Ethyl-N-alpha-dodecanoyl-L-arginate hydrochloride | — | 58 | (a) 0,15 % (b) 0,4 % |
| FORMIC ACID / SODIUM FORMATE | — | 14 | 0.5% (as acid) |
| GLUTARAL | — | 48 | 0.1% |
| SORBIC ACID / CALCIUM SORBATE / SODIUM SORBATE / POTASSIUM SORBATE | — | 4 | 0.6% (acid) |
| SODIUM SULFITE / AMMONIUM BISULFITE / AMMONIUM SULFITE / POTASSIUM SULFITE / POTASSIUM hydrogen SULFITE / SODIUM BISULFITE / SODIUM METABISULFITE / POTASSIUM METABISULFITE | — | 9 | 0.2% (as free SO2) |
| BENZYLHEMIFORMAL | — | 55 | 0.15% |
| METHENAMINE | — | 30 | 0.15% |
| METHYLCHLOROISOTHIAZOLINONE AND METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE | — | 39 | 0.0015% (of a mixture in the ratio 3:1 of 5-Chloro-2-methyl-isothiazol-3(2H)-one and 2-Methylisothiazol-3(2H)-one |
| Moved or deleted | — | 36 | — |
| Moved or deleted | — | 6 | — |
| Moved or deleted | — | 10 | — |
| IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA | — | 27 | 0.6% |
| CHLORHEXIDINE / CHLORHEXIDINE DIACETATE / CHLORHEXIDINE DIGLUCONATE / CHLORHEXIDINE DIHYDROCHLORIDE | — | 42 | 0.3% (as chlorhexidine) |
| DIAZOLIDINYL UREA | — | 46 | 0.5% |
| PHENYL MERCURIC ACETATE / PHENYL MERCURIC BENZOATE | — | 17 | 0.007% (of Hg) If mixed with other mercurial compounds authorized by this Directive, the maximum concentration of Hg remains fixed at 0.007% |
| POLYAMINOPROPYL BIGUANIDE | — | 28 | 0.1% |
| PROPIONIC ACID / AMMONIUM PROPIONATE / CALCIUM PROPIONATE / MAGNESIUM PROPIONATE / POTASSIUM PROPIONATE / SODIUM PROPIONATE | — | 2 | 2% (acid) |
| SALICYLIC ACID, CALCIUM SALICYLATE, MAGNESIUM SALICYLATE, MEA- SALICYLATE, SODIUM SALICYLATE, POTASSIUM SALICYLATE, TEA- SALICYLATE | — | 3 | Salicylic acid: 0,5 % (acid) Salicylic acid salts: 0,5 % (acid) |
| AMMONIUM BENZOATE / BUTYL BENZOATE / CALCIUM BENZOATE / ETHYL BENZOATE / ISOBUTYL BENZOATE / ISOPROPYL BENZOATE / MAGNESIUM BENZOATE / MEA-BENZOATE / METHYL BENZOATE / PHENYL BENZOATE / POTASSIUM BENZOATE / PROPYL BENZOATE | — | 1a | 0.5% (acid) |
| SILVER CHLORIDE | — | 52 | 0.004% (as AgCl) |
| Ammonium Silver Zinc Aluminium Silicate | — | 61 | (a) and (b) 1 % |
| SODIUM HYDROXYMETHYLGLYCINATE | — | 51 | 0.5% |
| THIMEROSAL | — | 16 | 0.007% (of Hg) If mixed with other mercurial compounds authorized by this Regulation, the maximum concentration of Hg remains fixed at 0.007% |
| UNDECYLENIC ACID / POTASSIUM UNDECYLENATE / SODIUM UNDECYLENATE / CALCIUM UNDECYLENATE / MEA-UNDECYLENATE / TEA-UNDECYLENATE | — | 18 | 0.2% (as acid) |
Showing 58 of 58 ingredients
Other annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009
Special categories
Integrate CosIng updates into your systems
BD-API synchronises Annex V automatically and notifies your audit workflows via signed webhooks.
Request access →Data source: official CosIng from the European Commission. BD-API does not replace professional regulatory advice.