{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/cosmetic-products-safety-amendment-regulations-1987/schedule-4",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/cosmetic-products-safety-amendment-regulations-1987/schedule-4.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/1987/1920",
  "legislation_title": "The Cosmetic Products (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1987",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/cosmetic-products-safety-amendment-regulations-1987",
  "path": "schedule/4",
  "kind": "schedule",
  "number": "4",
  "heading": null,
  "text": "SCHEDULE 5\nPRESERVATIVES\nRegulations 6(6) and 8(1)\nIn this Schedule, the matters specified in columns 3, 4, 5 and 6 which apply to a particular substance are those set out to the right of its name as mentioned in column 2; and the matters specified in columns 4, 5 and 6 which apply in any particular case are those set out to the right of the matter specified in column 3 which applies in that case. The substance may not be used or contained other than in the types of product specified in column 3. The concentration of the substance, when it is used as a preservative, in a product may not exceed the limit set out in column 4. Where a product is intended to be mixed with another product in specified proportions before use, the level of concentration shall be calculated by reference to the mixture. Other requirements are specified in column 5.\nIn column 4 of this Schedule, “A” indicates that the concentration of the substance in a product may exceed the limit set out in that column provided that–\n(a) the presence of any excess of the substance in a product over the concentration so set out is not for the primary purpose of inhibiting the development of micro-organisms; and\n(b) the purpose for which any such excess is present in the product is apparent from the labelling of the product.\nIn this Schedule–\n“salts” means salts of the cations sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, ammonium and ethanolamines and of the anions chloride, bromide, sulphate and acetate;\n“esters” means esters of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl and phenyl.\nIn column 4 of this Schedule, the percentage concentration is measured by reference to mass (m/m) unless a contrary intention appears.\nAll preservative substances containing formaldehyde or any substances named in this Schedule which release formaldehyde must be labelled with the warning “contains formaldehyde” when the concentration of formaldehyde in the final product exceeds 0.05 per cent.\nPART I\nPreservatives listed in Annex VI, Part I of the Directive as preservatives allowed\nColumn 1\nColumn 2\nColumn 3\nColumn 4\nColumn 5\nColumn 6\nReference Number\nName of substance\nPurpose of substance or type of product\nMaximum concentration of substance in product\nOther requirements\nRequired information\n1\nBenzoic acid, its salts and esters\nAll products\n0.5 per cent (acid) A\n–\n–\n2\nPropionic acid and its salts\nAll products\n2 per cent (acid) A\n–\n–\n3\nSalicylic acid and its salts\nAll products\n0.5 per cent (acid) A\nNot to be used in preparations for children under three years of age except for shampoos\nNot to be used for children under three years of age (Solely for products which might be used for children under three years of age and which remain in prolonged contact with the skin)\n4\nSorbic acid (hexa–2,4–dienoic acid) and its salts\nAll products\n0.6 per cent (acid) A\n–\n–\n5\nFormaldehyde and paraformaldehyde\nOral hygiene products\nOther products (see also Part I of Schedule 2)\n0.1 per cent (expressed as free formaldehyde)\n0.2 per cent (expressed as free formaldehyde)\nNot to be used in aerosol dispensers (sprays)\n–\n6\nHexachlorophene (INN)\nAll products\n0.1 per cent\n–Not to be used in products for children less than three years old or in personal hygiene products.\n–Purity criterion: absence of 2,3,7,8–tetrachlorodibenzo–p–dioxin\nNot to be used for children under three years of age.\nContains hexachlorophene\n7\nBiphenyl–2–ol (o–phenylphenol) and its salts\nAll products\n0.2 per cent expressed as the phenol A\n–\n–\n8\nPyrithione zinc (INN)\nProducts rinsed off after use\n0.5 per cent A\nNot to be used in oral hygiene products\n–\n9\nInorganic sulphites and hydrogen sulphites\nAll products\n0.2 per cent Aexpressed as free SOd22\n–\n–\n10\nSodium iodate\nProducts rinsed off after use\n0.1 per cent\n–\n–\n11\nChlorobutanol (INN)\nAll products\n0.5 per cent\nNot to be used in aerosol dispensers (sprays)\nContains chlorobutanol\n12\n4–Hydroxybenzoic acid and its salts and esters\nAll products\n0.4 per cent (acid) for 1 ester, 0.8 per cent (acid) for mixtures of esters A\n–\n–\n13\n3–Acetyl–6–methylpyran–2,4 (3H)–dione (Dehydracetic acid) and its salts\nAll products\n0.6 per cent (acid)\nNot to be used in aerosol dispensers (sprays)\n–\n14\nFormic acid\nAll products\n0.5 per cent (acid) A\n–\n–\n15\n3,3'–Dibromo–4,4' –hexamethylene –dioxydibenzamidine (Dibromohexamidine) and its salts (including isethionate)\nAll products\n0.1 per cent\n–\n–\n16\nThiomersal (INN)\nEye make-up and eye make-up remover\n0.007 per cent calculated as mercury. When mixed with other authorised mercury compounds total mercury concentration must not exceed 0.007 per cent\n–\nContains thiomersal\n17\nPhenylmercuric salts (including borate)\nEye make-up and eye make-up remover\n0.007 per cent calculated as mercury. When mixed with other authorised mercury compounds total mercury concentration must not exceed 0.007 per cent\n–\nContains phenylmercuric compounds\n18\nUndec–10–enoic acid and its salts\nAll products\n0.2 per cent (acid) A\nSee also Schedule 5, Part II, Item 8\n–\n19\nHexetidine (INN)\nRinse-off products only\n0.1 per cent A\nSee also Schedule 5, Part II, Item 15\n–\n20\n5–Bromo–5–nitro–1, 3–dioxane\nRinse-off products only\n0.1 per cent\nAvoid formation of nitrosamines\nSee Schedule 5, Part II, No. 7\n–\n21\nBronopol (INN)\nAll products\n0.1 per cent A\nAvoid formation of nitrosamines\n–\n22\n2,4–Dichlorobenzyl alcohol\nAll products\n0.15 per cent A\n–\n–\n23\nTriclocarban (INN)\nAll products\n0.2 per cent A\nPurity criteria:\n3,3',4,4'–Tetrachloroazobenzene 1 ppm\n3,3',4,4'–Tetrachloroazoxybenzene 1 ppm\n–\n24\n4–Chloro–m–cresol\nNot to be used in products intended to come into contact with mucous membranes\n0.2 per cent A\n–\n–\n25\nTriclosan (INN)\nAll products\n0.3 per cent A\n–\n–\n26\n4–Chloro–3,5–xylenol\nAll products\n0.5 per cent A\n–\n–\n27\n3,3'–Bis(l–hydroxymethyl –2,5–dioxoimidazolidin–4–yl) –1,1'–methylenediurea (“Imidazolidinyl urea”)\nAll products\n0.6 per cent A\n–\n–\n28\nPoly(l–hexamethylenebiguanide hydrochloride)\nAll products\n0.3 per cent A\n–\n–\n29\n2–Phenoxyethanol\nAll products\n1.0 per cent A\n–\n–\n30\nHexamethylenetetramine (methenamine (INN))\nAll products\n0.15 per cent A\n–\n–\n31\nMethenamine 3–chloroallylochloride (INNM)\nAll products\n0.2 per cent\n–\n–\n32\n1–(4–Chlorophenoxy)–1 –(imidazol–l–yl)–3,3–di– methylbutan–2–one\nAll products\n0.5 per cent A\n–\n–\n33\n1,3–Bis(hydroxymethyl)–5,5– dimethylimidazolidine–2,4–dione\nAll products\n0.6 per cent A\n–\n–\n34\nBenzyl alcohol\nAll products (See also Schedule 2 Part I, No. 46)\n1.0 per cent A\n–\n–\n35\n1–Hydroxy–4–methyl–6–(2,4,4– trimethylpentyl)–2–pyridone and its monoethanolamine salt\nRinse-off products only\nFor other products\n1.0 per cent A\n0.5 per cent A\n–\n–\n36\n1,2–Dibromo–2,4–dicyanobutane\nAll products\n0.1 per cent\nNot to be used in cosmetic sunscreen products\n–\n37\n6,6–Dibromo–4,4–dichloro–2,2'– methylenediphenol (Bromochlorophen)\nAll products\n0.1 per cent A\n–\n–\n38\n4–Isopropyl–m–cresol\nAll products\n0.1 per cent\n–\n–\n39\nMixture of 5–Chloro–2–methylisothiazol– 3(2H)–one and 2– methylisothiazol–3(2H)–one with magnesium chloride and magnesium nitrate\nAll products\n0.003 per cent of a mixture in the ratio 3:1 of 5–chloro–2–methylisothiazol– 3(2H)–one and 2– methylisothiazol–3(2H)–one\n–\n–\nPART II\nPreservatives listed in annex VI Part 2 of the Directive as preservatives provisionally allowed\nColumn 1\nColumn 2\nColumn 3\nColumn 4\nColumn 5\nColumn 6\nColumn 7\na\nb\nc\nd\ne\nf\nReference Number\nName of substance\nType of product\nMaximum concentration of substance in product\nOther limitations and requirements\nRequired informationConditions of use and warnings which must be printed on the label\nAllowed until\n1\nBoric acid\n(a) Products for oral hygiene\n(b) Other products (see also Schedule 2 Part 1, No. 1)\n0.5 per cent A\n3.0 per cent A\n–\n–\n31.12.1988\n2\nChlorphenesin (INN)\nAll products\n0.5 per cent A\n–\n–\n31.12.1987\n3\nDibromopropamidine (INN) and its salts (including isethionate (INN))\nAll products\n0.1 per cent\n–\n–\n31.12.1988\n4\nAlkyl (C12–C22) trimethyl–ammonium bromide and chloride (including Cetrimonium bromide (INN))\nAll products\n0.1 per cent A\n–\n–\n31.12.1988\n5\n3–Heptyl–2–(3–heptyl–4 methyl–4–thiazolin–2– ylidenemethyl)–4–methyl– thiazolinium iodide\nCreams, toilet lotions and shampoos\n0.002 per cent\n–\n–\n31.12.1988\n6\n4,4–Dimethyl– 1,3–oxazolidine\nProducts rinsed off after use\n0.1 per cent\nThe pH of the finished product shall not be lower than 6\n–\n31.12.1989\n7\n5–Bromo–5–nitro–1,3– dioxane\nNon rinse-off products\n0.1 per cent\nAvoid formation of nitrosamines (See Schedule 5–Part I, No. 20)\n–\n31.12.1987\n8\nUndec–10–enoic acid: esters, the amide, the mono–and bis(2–hydroxethyl) amides and their sulphosuccinates\nAll products (See Schedule 5–Part I, No. 18)\n0.2 per cent (acid) A\n–\n–\n31.12.1987\n9\nClorofene (INN)\nAll products\n0.2 per cent\n–\n–\n31.12.1987\n10\n2–Chloro–N– (hydroxymethyl) acetamide\nProducts rinsed off after use\n0.3 per cent expressed as the chloracetamide\n–\n–\n31.12.1987\n11\n1–Phenoxypropan–2–ol\nProducts rinsed off after use\n1.0 per cent\nFor other uses see Schedule 2–Part II–No. 5\n–\n31.12.1987\n12\nBenzethonium chloride (INN)\nNot to be used in products intended to come into contact with mucous membranes\n0.1 per cent A\n–\n–\n31.12.1988\n13\nBenzalkonium chloride (INN) bromide and saccharinate\nAll products\n0.25 per cent A\n–\n–\n31.12.1987\n14\n1–[1,3–Bis(hydroxymethyl)– 2,5– dioxoimidazolidin–4– yl] 1,3–bis(hydroxymethyl) urea\nAll products\n0.5 per cent\n–\n–\n31.12.1987\n15\nHexetidine (INN)\nAll products (See also Schedule 5, Part I, No. 19)\n0.1 per cent\n–\n–\n31.12.1987\n16\n4–Hydroxybenzoic acid benzyl ester\nAll products\n0.1 per cent (acid)\n–\n–\n31.12.1988\n17\nHexamidine (INN) and its salts (including isethionate and 4–hydroxybenzoate)\nAll products\n0.1 per cent A\n–\n–\n31.12.1988\n18\nBenzylformal (a 1:1 mixture of benzyloxymethanol and (benzyloxymethoxy) methanol)\nAll products\n0.2 per cent\n–\n–\n31.12.1987\n19\n2–Chloroacetamide\nAll products\n0.3 per cent\n–\nContains chloroacetamide\n31.12.1987\n20\nChlorhexidine (INN) and its digluconate, diacetate and dihydrochloride\nAll products\n0.3 per cent A\n–\n–\n31.12.1987\n21\n1,3,5–Tris(2–hydroxyethyl) hexahydro–1,3,5–triazine\nProducts rinsed off after use\n0.2 per cent\n–\nContains 1,3,5–Tris(2–hydroxyethyl) hexahydro–1,3,5 triazine\n31.12.1988",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1987/1920/schedule/4",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T16:18:21.029548+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}