FORMALDEHYDE

Frequently asked questions

• Is FORMALDEHYDE safe in cosmetics?

  FORMALDEHYDE falls under Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, and under Article 14 a cosmetic product placed on the EU market must not contain a substance prohibited by that annex. This is a legal status, not a toxicity finding about any particular product. Where a non-compliant product is found, the competent authority requires the responsible person to bring it into conformity, withdraw it from the market or recall it, proportionate to the risk; products presenting a serious risk are also notified through the EU Safety Gate.

• In which annex of Regulation 1223/2009 does FORMALDEHYDE fall?

  FORMALDEHYDE falls under reference II/1577 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 FORMALDEHYDE perform in cosmetics?

  According to the European Commission's CosIng database, FORMALDEHYDE performs the following functions in cosmetics: ANTIMICROBIAL, DENATURANT, 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 FORMALDEHYDE?

  We found 5 recent alerts in the EU Safety Gate database in which FORMALDEHYDE appears in the risk description or on the ingredient list of a recalled cosmetic. The full list and details of each alert are below in the Safety Gate alerts section.