CETEARTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE
CETEARTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE is approved in cosmetics in the EU as a preservative — Annex V, entry 44 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Review the concentration limits and Safety Gate alerts.
Regulatory data checked on 2026-09-05. The legal status follows Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and its annexes; the substance is identified from the European Commission's CosIng database.
About the ingredient
Quaternary ammonium compounds, C16-18-alkyltrimethyl, chlorides
EU regulatory status
Annex of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009: V/44
What entry V/44 of the Regulation says
Alkyl (C12-C22) trimethyl ammonium bromide and chloride
Source: the European Commission's official CosIng database and Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products. How we assess ingredients — full methodology.
- View the entry in the CosIng database (European Commission)
- Open Regulation 1223/2009 in EUR-Lex
- Check the chemical profile in PubChem
Last updated:
Functions in cosmetics
Frequently asked questions
Is CETEARTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE safe in cosmetics?
CETEARTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE is included on the EU positive list of special-purpose additives (Annex IV – colorants, Annex V – preservatives, or Annex VI – UV filters of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009). It may be used in cosmetics under the conditions laid down for the relevant annex: permitted product categories, maximum concentration and required warnings.
In which annex of Regulation 1223/2009 does CETEARTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE fall?
CETEARTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE falls under reference V/44 in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products. An annex entry may name a substance directly or cover it as part of a broader category. The first part (Roman numeral) indicates the annex: II – prohibited substances, III – substances restricted by conditions, IV – permitted colorants, V – permitted preservatives, VI – permitted UV filters.
What functions does CETEARTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE perform in cosmetics?
According to the European Commission's CosIng database, CETEARTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE performs the following functions in cosmetics: ANTISTATIC, HAIR CONDITIONING, PRESERVATIVE. Functions are defined in the CosIng glossary and describe the technological role of a substance in the finished product.
Are there Safety Gate alerts concerning CETEARTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE?
Our copy of the EU Safety Gate database currently contains no alerts linking CETEARTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE to a cosmetic recall. The database is refreshed regularly from the European Commission's official Safety Gate system.