MHLW — Standards for Cosmetics
MHLW Ordinance No. 331 (Standards for Cosmetics) positive/negative lists
13 compiled entries · 3 banned · 10 restricted
| Ingredient | Status | Limit | Rule | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hydroquinone | Banned | — | MHLW Ordinance 331 — prohibited substance | Source |
| mercury | Banned | — | MHLW Ordinance 331 — prohibited substance | Source |
| retinoic acid | Banned | — | MHLW — Rx only (tretinoin), not permitted in cosmetics | Source |
| phenoxyethanol | Restricted | ≤ 1% | MHLW positive list (preservatives) ≤1.0% | Source |
| salicylic acid | Restricted | ≤ 0.2% | MHLW positive list ≤0.2% (non-rinse-off; 2% for scalp rinse-off) | Source |
| methylparaben | Restricted | ≤ 1% | MHLW positive list ≤1.0% | Source |
| propylparaben | Restricted | ≤ 0.3% | MHLW positive list ≤0.3% | Source |
| butylparaben | Restricted | ≤ 0.3% | MHLW positive list ≤0.3% | Source |
| triclosan | Restricted | ≤ 0.3% | MHLW positive list ≤0.3% | Source |
| kojic acid | Restricted | ≤ 2% | MHLW quasi-drug active ≤2% | Source |
| niacinamide | Restricted | ≤ 100% | MHLW quasi-drug active (whitening) — standard range 2–5% | Source |
| oxybenzone | Restricted | ≤ 5% | MHLW positive list (UV filters) ≤5% | Source |
| zinc pyrithione | Restricted | ≤ 0.5% | MHLW positive list (anti-dandruff) ≤0.5% | Source |
2026-07-21 · Compiled from cited primary sources. Informational only — not legal advice.
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