HC YELLOW NO. 3
HC YELLOW NO. 3 is banned in cosmetics in the EU — Annex II, entry 1286 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Review the regulatory details and Safety Gate alerts.
Regulatory status as of 2026-08-28 (per the CosIng database).
About the ingredient
N1-(Tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl-4-nitro-1,2-phenylenediamine; 2-[(2-amino-4-nitrophenyl)amino]-2-(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol
EU regulatory status
Annex of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009: II/1286
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 HC YELLOW NO. 3 safe in cosmetics?
HC YELLOW NO. 3 is banned in the EU under Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and may not be used in cosmetics placed on the EU market. Cosmetics containing this substance are withdrawn by national inspectorates and reported to the EU Safety Gate database.
In which annex of Regulation 1223/2009 is HC YELLOW NO. 3 listed?
HC YELLOW NO. 3 is listed under reference II/1286 in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products. 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 HC YELLOW NO. 3 perform in cosmetics?
According to the European Commission's CosIng database, HC YELLOW NO. 3 performs the following functions in cosmetics: HAIR DYEING. 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 HC YELLOW NO. 3?
Our copy of the EU Safety Gate database currently contains no alerts linking HC YELLOW NO. 3 to a cosmetic recall. The database is refreshed regularly from the European Commission's official Safety Gate system.