Search Legislation

The Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 1996

 Help about what version

What Version

  • Latest available (Revised)
  • Original (As made)

More Resources

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

PART IPRESERVATIVES LISTED IN ANNEX VI, PART I OF THE DIRECTIVE(1) AS PRESERVATIVES WHICH COSMETIC PRODUCTS MAY NOT CONTAIN EXCEPT SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS LAID DOWN

(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)
Reference NumberName of substancePurpose of substance or type of productMaximum concentration of substance in productOther requirementsRequired information
1Benzoic acid, its salts and estersAll products0.5 per cent (acid)A
2Propionic acid and its saltsAll products2 per cent (acid)A
3Salicylic acid and its saltsAll products0.5 per cent (acid)ANot to be used in preparations for children under three years of age except for shampoosNot to be used for children under three years of age (Solely for products which might be used for children under three years of age and which remain in prolonged contact with the skin)
4Sorbic acid (hexa-2,4-dienoic acid) and its saltsAll products0.6 per cent (acid)A
5Formaldehyde and paraformaldehydeFor oral hygiene0.1 per cent (expressed as free formaldehyde)Not to be used in aerosol dispensers (sprays)
Except for oral hygiene (see also Part I of Schedule 2)0.2 per cent (expressed as free formaldehyde)
6ENTRY DELETED
7Biphenyl-2-ol [o-phenylphenol] and its saltsAll products0.2 per cent (expressed as the phenol)A
8Pyrithione zinc (INN) [Zinc pyrithione]Products rinsed off after use0.5 per centANot to be used in oral hygiene products
9Inorganic sulphites and hydrogen sulphitesAll products0.2 per cent (expressed as free SO2)A
10Sodium iodateProducts rinsed off after use0.1 per cent
11Chlorobutanol (INN)All products0.5 per centNot to be used in aerosol dispensers (sprays)Contains chlorobutanol
124-Hydroxybenzoic acid and its salts and esters [the Parabens]All products0.4 per cent (acid) for 1 ester, 0.8 per cent (acid) for mixtures of estersA
133-Acetyl-6-methylpyran-2,4(3H)-dione [Dehydroacetic acid] and its saltsAll products0.6 per cent (acid)Not to be used in aerosol dispensers (sprays)
14Formic acid and its sodium saltAll products0.5 per cent (expressed as acid)A
153,3'-Dibromo-4,4'-hexamethylene-dioxydibenzamidine [Dibromohexamidine] and its salts (including isethionate)All products0.1 per cent
16Thiomersal (INN) [Thimerosal]Eye make-up and eye make-up remover0.007 per cent calculated as mercury. When mixed with other authorised mercury compounds total mercury concentration must not exceed 0.007 per centContains thiomersal
17Phenylmercuric salts (including borate)Eye make-up and eye make-up remover0.007 per cent calculated as mercury. When mixed with other authorised mercury compounds total mercury concentration must not exceed 0.007 per centContains phenylmercuric compounds
18Undec-10-enoic acid [Undecylenic acid] and its saltsAll products0.2 per cent (acid)A
19Hexetidine (INN)Products rinsed off after use0.1 per centA
205-Bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxaneProducts rinsed off after use0.1 per centAvoid formation of nitrosamines
21Bronopol (INN) [2-Bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol]All products0.1 per centAAvoid formation of nitrosamines
222,4-Dichlorobenzyl alcohol [Dichlorobenzyl alcohol]All products0.15 per centA
23Triclocarban (INN)All products0.2 per centA

Purity criteria:

3,3'4,4'-tetrachloro-azobenzene<1 mg/kg

3,3',4,4'-tetrachloro-azoxybenzene<1 mg/kg

244-Chloro-m-cresol [p-Chloro-m-cresol]Not to be used in products intended to come into contact with mucous membranes0.2 per centA
25Triclosan (INN)All products0.3 per centA
264-Chloro-3,5-xylenol [Chloroxylenol]All products0.5 per centA
273,3'-Bis(1-hydroxymethyl-2,5-dioxoimidazolidin-4-yl)-1,1'-methylenediurea [Imidazolidinyl urea]All products0.6 per centA
28Poly(1-hexamethylene-biguanide hydrochloride) [Polyaminopropyl biguanide]All products0.3 per centA
292-Phenoxyethanol [Phenoxyethanol]All products1.0 per centA
30Hexamethylenetetramine (Methenamine (INN)) [Methenamine]All products0.15 per centA
31Methenamine 3-chloroallylochloride (INNM) [Quaternium-15]All products0.2 per cent
321-(4-Chlorophenoxy)-1-(imidazol-1-yl)-3,3-dimethylbutan-2-one (Climbazole (INN)) [Climbazole]All products0.5 per centA
331,3-Bis(hydroxymethyl)-5,5-dimethylimidazolidine-2,4-dione [DMDM Hydantoin]All products0.6 per centA
34Benzyl alcohol (See also Part I of Schedule 2)All products1.0 per centA
351-Hydroxy-4-methyl-6-(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)-2-pyridone and its monoethanolamine salt [Piroctone olamine]

Products rinsed off after use

Other products

1.0 per cent

0.5 per cent

A

A

361,2-Dibromo-2,4-dicyanobutane [Methyldibromo glutaronitrile]All products0.1 per centNot to be used in cosmetic sunscreen products at a concentration exceeding 0.025 per cent
376,6-Dibromo-4,4-dichloro-2,2'-methylenediphenol [Bromochlorophen]All products0.1 per centA
384-Isopropyl-m-cresol [o-Cymen-5-ol]All products0.1 per cent
39Mixture of 5-chloro-2-methylisothiazol-3(2H)-one and 2-methylisothiazol-3(2H)-one with magnesium chloride and magnesium nitrate [Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone]All products0.0015 per cent of a mixture in the ratio 3:1 of 5-chloro-2-methylisothiazol-3(2H)-one to 2-methylisothiazol-3(2H)-one
402-Benzyl-4-chlorophenol [Chlorophene]All products0.2 per cent
412-Chloroacetamide [Chloroacetamide]All products0.3 per centContains chloroacetamide
42Chlorhexidine (INN) and its digluconate, diacetate and dihydrochlorideAll products0.3 per centA
431-Phenoxypropan-2-ol [Phenoxyisopropanol] (see also Part I of Schedule 2)Products rinsed off after use1.0 per cent
44Alkyl (C12-C22)-trimethylammonium bromide and chloride (Cetrimonium bromide (INN) and Cetrimonium chloride (INNM))All products0.1 per centA
454,4-Dimethyl-1,3-oxazolidine [Dimethyl oxazolidine]All products0.1 per centThe pH of the finished product must not be lower than 6
461-[1,3-Bis(hydroxymethyl)-2,5-dioxoimidazolidin-4-yl]-1,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)urea [Diazolidinyl urea]All products0.5 per cent
47Hexamidine (INN) (4,4'-(Hexamethylene-dioxy)dibenzamidine) and its salts, including isethionate and p-hydroxybenzoateAll products0.1 per centA
48Glutaraldehyde (pentane-1,5-dial) [Glutaral]All products0.1 per centProhibited in aerosols (sprays)Contains glutaraldehyde (where glutaraldehyde concentration in the finished product exceeds 0.05 per cent)
495-Ethyl-3,7-dioxa-1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane[7-Ethylbicyclooxazolidine]All products0.3 per centProhibited in oral hygiene products and in products intended to come into contact with mucous membranes
50Chlorphenesin (INN) [Chlorphenesin]All products0.3 per cent
51Sodium N-hydroxymethylglycinate [Sodium hydroxymethyl-glycinate]All products0.5 per cent
52Silver chloride deposited on titanium dioxideNot to be used in products for children under three years of age, in oral hygiene products and in products intended for application around the eyes and on the lips0.004 per cent calculated as silver chlorideThe ratio of titanium dioxide to silver chloride shall be 4:1 by mass

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources