OPSS — UK Cosmetics Regulation
UK Cosmetics Regulation (retained/assimilated EC 1223/2009, Annexes II–VI) enforced via the Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/1478), as amended by subsequent UK Statutory Instruments
23 compiled entries · 20 banned · 2 restricted · 1 flagged
| Ingredient | Status | Limit | Rule | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| butylphenyl methylpropional (lilial / 2-(4-tert-butylbenzyl)propionaldehyde) | Banned | — | Annex II entry 1666, CAS 80-54-6/EC 201-289-8, inserted by The Toys and Cosmetic Products (Restriction of Chemical Substances) Regulations 2022 (SI 2022/659); placing-on-market cutoff 15 Oct 2022, off-shelf 15 Dec 2022 — CMR reprotoxic classification | Source |
| metaldehyde | Banned | — | Annex II entry 1647, CAS 108-62-3/EC 203-600-2, inserted by SI 2022/659 | Source |
| zinc pyrithione | Banned | — | Annex II entry 1669, CAS 13463-41-7/EC 236-671-3, inserted by SI 2022/659 (also removed from Annex III restricted-use and Annex V preservative lists) | Source |
| kojic acid | Restricted | ≤ 1% | Annex III entry 323, CAS 501-30-4/EC 207-922-4 — restricted to max 1% and face/hand products only, inserted by The Cosmetic Products (Restriction of Chemical Substances) (No. 2) Regulations 2024 (SI 2024/1334), in force 31 Jan 2025 | Source |
| tetrafluoroethylene | Banned | — | Annex II entry 1680, CAS 116-14-3, inserted by SI 2024/1334 as a CMR substance | Source |
| dbmc (6,6'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-methylenedi-p-cresol) | Banned | — | Annex II entry 1681, CAS 119-47-1, inserted by SI 2024/1334 as a CMR substance | Source |
| benzophenone | Banned | — | Annex II entry 1704, CAS 119-61-9/EC 204-337-6, inserted by SI 2024/1334 as a CMR substance | Source |
| bisphenol s (4,4'-sulphonyldiphenol) | Banned | — | Annex II entry 1726, CAS 80-09-1, inserted by SI 2024/1334 as a CMR substance | Source |
| melamine (1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine) | Banned | — | Annex II entry 1730, CAS 108-78-1, inserted by SI 2024/1334 as a CMR substance | Source |
| bisphenol af | Banned | — | Annex II entry 1736, CAS 1478-61-1, inserted by SI 2024/1334 as a CMR substance | Source |
| enzacamene (4-methylbenzylidene camphor / 4-mbc) | Banned | — | Annex II entry 1744, inserted by The Cosmetic Products Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (Restriction of Chemical Substances) (Amendment and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/23), effective 15 Aug 2026; its former Annex VI UV-filter entry 18 correspondingly omitted | Source |
| diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide (tpo) | Banned | — | Annex II entry 1745, CMR reprotoxic photoinitiator substance inserted by SI 2026/23 | Source |
| clothianidin | Banned | — | Annex II entry 1746, inserted by SI 2026/23 as a CMR substance | Source |
| dimethyl propylphosphonate | Banned | — | Annex II entry 1747, inserted by SI 2026/23 as a CMR substance | Source |
| dibutyltin dimaleate | Banned | — | Annex II entry 1748 (listed as 'dibutyltin maleate' in the instrument), inserted by SI 2026/23 (organotin CMR compound) | Source |
| dibutyltin oxide | Banned | — | Annex II entry 1749, inserted by SI 2026/23 (organotin CMR compound) | Source |
| tetrabromobisphenol a | Banned | — | Annex II entry 1750, inserted by SI 2026/23 as a CMR substance | Source |
| 4-methylimidazole | Banned | — | Annex II entry 1752, inserted by SI 2026/23 as a CMR substance | Source |
| acetone oxime | Banned | — | Annex II entry 1753, inserted by SI 2026/23 as a CMR substance | Source |
| s-metolachlor | Banned | — | Annex II entry 1759, inserted by SI 2026/23 as a CMR substance | Source |
| trimethyl borate | Banned | — | Annex II entry 1760, inserted by SI 2026/23 as a CMR substance | Source |
| formaldehyde | Flagged | ≤ 0.001% | Annex V preamble para 2 — mandatory 'contains formaldehyde' warning-label trigger for formaldehyde-releasing preservatives lowered from 0.05% to 0.001% releasable formaldehyde by SI 2026/23 | Source |
| methylparaben / propylparaben / butylparaben (parabens, Annex III entry 12/entry 25/entry 25a family) | Restricted | ≤ 0.4% | Annex III general paraben concentration limits (short-chain esters up to 0.4% single / 0.8% combined; certain longer-chain/branched esters restricted or banned in leave-on nappy-area products for children under 3) as retained in the UK Cosmetics Regulation | Source |
2026-07-21 · Compiled from cited primary sources. Informational only — not legal advice.
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