BASIC VIOLET 2
Official label name (INCIInternational name of cosmetic ingredients: the one printed on the pack. name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 3102
- Allowed with restrictions (Annex III)
- Colorant allowed under conditions (Annex IV)
BASIC VIOLET 2: Allowed with restrictions, maximum 0.5% in the ready-for-use preparation, only in: a) Hair dye substance in oxidative hair dye products b) Hair dye substance in non-oxidative hair dye products (Annex III, entry 278); colorant allowed under conditions, with limits depending on the product type (Annex IV, entry 67), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Annexes of the Regulation consulted on 21 October 2026.
Who it concerns
What official classifications and rules say for each group. A classification describes the hazard of the pure substance, not the risk of a product that contains it, which depends on the dose and the exposure.
Prohibition or serious classificationThe text prohibits the substance for this use, or ranks it among the most serious hazards (known or presumed carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic, identified endocrine disruptor).Worth watchingThe text sets a condition or flags a hazard worth knowing: allergen, suspected effect, condition for children, hazard to the aquatic environment.For informationOfficial information with no condition on a finished product: warning to read, irritation of the pure substance.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
No classification harmonised by the European Union covers reproduction, the unborn child or breastfeeding for this substance. This does not mean it has been judged to have no effect during pregnancy.
Babies and children
The Cosmetics Regulation sets no age-related condition for this ingredient.
Skin, eyes and allergies
No official classification for sensitisation, irritation or eye damage, and no obligation to label it as an allergen.
Environment
No harmonised classification as hazardous to the aquatic environment, and it is not on ECHAEuropean Chemicals Agency.'s Candidate List as an endocrine disruptor for the environment.
Read on the label
For informationOfficial information with no condition on a finished product: warning to read, irritation of the pure substance.
For information Annex III, entry 278, requires this to be printed on the pack: “a) To be printed on the label: The mixing ratio. “ Hair colorants can cause severe allergic reactions. Read and follow instructions. This product is not intended for use on persons under the age of 16. Temporary ‘black henna’ tattoos may increase your risk of allergy. Do not colour your hair if: — you have a rash on your face or sensitive, irritated and damaged scalp,— you have ever experienced any reaction after colouring your hair, — you have experienced a reaction to a temporary ‘black henna’ tattoo in the past.””.
CosIng, Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (restricted substances), retrieved 21 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
In plain words
What it is used for
Functions declared by manufacturers:
Hair dyeing: colours hair.
Functions declared in the CosIngThe European Commission's database of cosmetic ingredients. inventory. CosIng, inventory of cosmetic ingredients (INCI names, CAS, EC, functions), retrieved 21 October 2026.
Definitions of functions (decision repealed on 8 May 2020, cited for information). Decision 2006/257/EC, inventory of cosmetic ingredients (definitions of functions), retrieved 22 October 2026.
What the rules say
Allowed, with restrictions: Annex III sets a maximum concentration, the product types allowed and a warning to be printed on the packaging. Ingredient lists do not give quantities, so the concentration cannot be checked on the label; the warning can.
An ingredient can be used as a colorant only if it appears on the list of Annex IV. BASIC VIOLET 2 is on it with a maximum concentration.
CosIng, Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (restricted substances), retrieved 21 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
CosIng, Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (allowed colorants), retrieved 21 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
The text of the annexes
Allowed with restrictions
- Product type
- a) Hair dye substance in oxidative hair dye products b) Hair dye substance in non-oxidative hair dye products
- Maximum concentration
- 0.5%
- Other conditions
- (a) After mixing under oxidative conditions the maximum concentration applied to hair must not exceed 1,0 %
- Warning to print
- a) To be printed on the label: The mixing ratio. “ Hair colorants can cause severe allergic reactions. Read and follow instructions. This product is not intended for use on persons under the age of 16. Temporary ‘black henna’ tattoos may increase your risk of allergy. Do not colour your hair if: — you have a rash on your face or sensitive, irritated and damaged scalp,— you have ever experienced any reaction after colouring your hair, — you have experienced a reaction to a temporary ‘black henna’ tattoo in the past.”
- Entry
- Annex III, No 278
- Substance
- 4-((4-Amino-3- methylphenyl)(4- imino-3-methyl- 2,5-cyclohexadien-1- ylidene)methyl)-2- methylphenylamine monohydrochloride (CI 42520)
- Glossary names
- BASIC VIOLET 2
- CAS
- 3248-91-7
- EC
- 221-831-7
Dates in the act (3)
- Application from 11 July 2013
It shall apply from 11 July 2013.
- Entry into force on 11 July 2013
- Application from 1 July 2014
However, the following provisions in the Annex shall apply from 1 July 2014: (a) the provisions in column ‘i’ of point 1 and of points 3 to 9 relating to the use of the substances in products intended for colouring eyelashes; (b) points 2 and 10.
Excerpts from the English text published in the Official Journal. A date may concern only some substances of the act: the excerpt says so.
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex III, entry 278. CosIng, Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (restricted substances), retrieved 21 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
Entry from Regulation (EU) n° 1197/2013, adopted on 25 November 2013.
SCCSEU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety: it assesses cosmetic ingredients. opinions cited: Opinion on Basic Violet 2; Opinion on Basic Violet 2.
Colorant allowed under conditions
- Maximum concentration
- Rinse-off products
- Other conditions
- 5 ppm
- Entry
- Annex IV, No 67
- Substance
- 4-[(4-Amino-m-tolyl)(4-imino-3-methylcyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-ylidene)methyl]-o-toluidine monohydrochloride
- Glossary names
- CI 42520 / BASIC VIOLET 2
- CAS
- 3248-91-7
- EC
- 221-831-7
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex IV, entry 67. CosIng, Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (allowed colorants), retrieved 21 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
Entry from Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, adopted on 30 November 2009.
What has changed, and what will change
Dates of the texts that cover this ingredient. A text date may cover several substances: the details of each entry are below.
Annex IV, entry 67: introduced or replaced by Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009
Annex IV, entry 67: applies from this date
Annex III, entry 278: introduced or replaced by Regulation (EU) n° 1197/2013
Annex III, entry 278: applies from this date
Identity
- CosIng identifier
- 54825
- CAS (according to CosIng)
- 3248-91-7
- EC (according to CosIng)
- 221-831-7
- Declared functions
- Hair dyeing
- Wikidata
- Q7016415
- ECHA InfoCard
- 100.019.847
The CAS number cited by CosIng also covers 1 other INCI name: it designates a family of substances, not this ingredient alone.
CosIng inventory. CosIng, inventory of cosmetic ingredients (INCI names, CAS, EC, functions), retrieved 21 October 2026.
Wikidata, items with a CosIng identifier (P3073), retrieved 22 October 2026.
Wikidata, PubChem and ECHA links are published only when verified: same CosIng identifier, a single item, matching CAS number.
Elsewhere in the world
Information on other jurisdictions, with no effect on sale in France. What is covered, and what is not yet.
Comparison between countries
Most restrictive status in each country, and the maximum concentration cited. The details and the source of each rule follow.
| Country | Rule | Maximum concentration cited |
|---|---|---|
| European Union | Allowed with restrictions | 0.5% |
| United Kingdom | Allowed with restrictions | 0.5% |
| Switzerland | EU Regulation applies | 0.5% |
| United States (federal) | No federal rule recorded | not cited |
| Japan | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| South Korea | Allowed colorant | 0.5% |
| China | Not on the prohibited lists recorded (lists of allowed substances are not recorded) | not cited |
| Australia | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| Brazil | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Allowed with restrictions (Annex III)
- Colorant allowed under conditions (Annex IV)
Same entries as in the European Union. Their maximum concentrations are compared in the “Comparison between countries” table; other conditions (product types, warnings) may differ.
Annexes II to VI in force. United Kingdom, Annexes II to VI of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as retained and amended, retrieved 21 October 2026.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Northern Ireland applies EU law.
Switzerland
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 applies in Switzerland (Article 54 of the Ordinance on Foodstuffs and Utility Articles).
Switzerland, FDHA Ordinance on Cosmetic Products (OCos, SR 817.023.31), consolidated version, retrieved 22 October 2026.
United States, federal rules
None of the integrated sections of the federal code (21 CFR 700.11 to 700.27 and 250.250) targets this name. The FDA does not publish a list of allowed ingredients.
United States, 21 CFR part 700 and section 250.250 (FDA rules on cosmetic ingredients), eCFR, retrieved 21 October 2026.
The eCFR is not an official legal edition of the Code of Federal Regulations.
South Korea
- Allowed colorant: 염기성자색 2 호 (Basic Violet 2) CI 42520 (Basic Violet 2)
색소 고시 별표 1 (allowed colorants), entry 117, page 7. Limit: 0.5%.
Conditions, source text, in Korean
염모용 화장품에만 사용 | ◎ 사용한도 0.5% | 비고: 타르색소
South Korea, MFDS Standards for Cosmetic Colorants (화장품의 색소 종류 및 기준), Notification 2023-61, Annex 1, retrieved 22 October 2026.
Source: 식품의약품안전처 (MFDS), 화장품의 색소 종류 및 기준, via law.go.kr; table formatted by the publisher of this site.
Recorded cosmetics that contain it
2 recorded products list it, according to Open Beauty Facts contributors. Records are dated: the formula may have changed. See the list (in French).
Open Beauty Facts, export of cosmetic products, retrieved 21 October 2026.
Data “Open Beauty Facts and its contributors”, licensed under ODbL 1.0 (opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1-0); derived table distributed under the same licence.
Glossary: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175. Page updated on 21 October 2026.