Compoatlas

BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE

Official label name (INCI name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 3199

BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE: Allowed with restrictions, with limits depending on the product type (Annex III, entry 65); preservative allowed under conditions, with limits depending on the product type (Annex V, entry 54), 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.

  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding

    No official classification covers reproduction, the unborn child's development or breastfeeding for this substance.

  • Babies and children

    The Cosmetics Regulation sets no age-related condition for this ingredient.

  • Skin, eyes and allergies

    Classified under the CLP Regulation: skin corrosion, category 1B (Skin Corr. 1B).

  • Environment

    Classified under the CLP Regulation: hazardous to the aquatic environment, short term, category 1 (Aquatic Acute 1).

In plain words

What it is used for

Functions declared by manufacturers:

Antimicrobial: helps control the growth of micro-organisms on the skin.

Antistatic: reduces static electricity by neutralising electrical charge on a surface.

Deodorant: reduces or masks unpleasant body odours.

Preservative: inhibits primarily the development of micro-organisms in cosmetics.

Dispersing (surfactant).

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 preservative only if it appears on the list of Annex V. BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE is on it with a maximum concentration and with a warning to print.

The text of the annexes

Allowed with restrictions

Product type
Rinse-off hair (head) products
Maximum concentration
3% (as benzalkonium chloride)
Other conditions
In the final products the concentrations of benzalkonium chloride, bromide and saccharinate with an alkyl chain of C14, or less must not exceed 0.1% (as benzalkonium chloride) For purposes other than inhibiting the development of micro-organismes in the product. This purpose has to be apparent from the presentation of the product
Warning to print
Avoid contact with the eyes
Entry
Annex III, No 65
Substance
Benzalkonium chloride, bromide and saccharinate (9)
Glossary names
BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE / BENZALKONIUM BROMIDE / BENZALKONIUM SACCHARINATE
CAS
91080-29-4 / 63449-41-2 / 68391-01-5 / 68424-85-1 / 85409-22-9 / 68989-01-5
EC
293-522-5 / 264-151-6 / 269-919-4 / 270-325-2 / 287-089-1 / 273-545-7
Dates in the act (10)
  • Entry into force on 11 January 2010
  • Application from 1 December 2010
    It shall apply from 11 July 2013, with the exception of: — Article 15(1) and (2) which shall apply from 1 December 2010, as well as Articles 14, 31 and 32 to the extent that they are necessary to apply Article 15(1) and (2); and — Article 16(3) second subparagraph, which shall apply from 11 January 2013.
  • Entry into force on 1 December 2010
  • Condition applicable from 11 January 2012
    As from 11 January 2012, by way of derogation from Directive 76/768/EEC, notification carried out in accordance with Article 13 of this Regulation shall be considered to comply with Article 7(3) and Article 7a(4) of that Directive
  • Application from 11 January 2013
    July 2013, with the exception of: — Article 15(1) and (2) which shall apply from 1 December 2010, as well as Articles 14, 31 and 32 to the extent that they are necessary to apply Article 15(1) and (2); and — Article 16(3) second subparagraph, which shall apply from 11 January 2013.
  • Entry into force on 11 January 2013
  • Application from 11 July 2013
    It shall apply from 11 July 2013, with the exception of: — Article 15(1) and (2) which shall apply from 1 December 2010, as well as Articles 14, 31 and 32 to the extent that they are necessary to apply Article 15(1) and (2); and — Article 16(3) second subparagraph, which shall appl
  • Entry into force on 11 July 2013
  • Placing on the market before 11 July 2013
    Article 39 Transitional provisions By way of derogation from Directive 76/768/EEC, cosmetic products which comply with this Regulation may be placed on the market before 11 July 2013.
  • Placing on the market from 11 July 2013
    As from 11 July 2013, a distributor who makes available in a Member State a cosmetic product already placed on the market in another Member State and translates, on his own initiative, any element of the labelling of that product in order to comply with national law, shall submit, by electronic means, the following info

Excerpts from the English text published in the Official Journal. A date may concern only some substances of the act: the excerpt says so.

Preservative allowed under conditions

Maximum concentration
0.1% (as benzalkonium chloride)
Warning to print
Avoid contact with eyes
Entry
Annex V, No 54
Substance
Benzalkonium chloride, bromide and saccharinate (10)
Glossary names
BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE / BENZALKONIUM BROMIDE / BENZALKONIUM SACCHARINATE
CAS
8001-54-5/ 63449-41-2 / 91080-29-4 / 68989-01-5 / 68424-85-1 / 68391-01-5 / 61789-71-7 / 85409-22-9
EC
264-151-6 / 293-522-5 / 273-545-7 / 270-325-2 / 269-919-4 / 263-080-8 / 287-089-1
Dates in the act (10)
  • Entry into force on 11 January 2010
  • Application from 1 December 2010
    It shall apply from 11 July 2013, with the exception of: — Article 15(1) and (2) which shall apply from 1 December 2010, as well as Articles 14, 31 and 32 to the extent that they are necessary to apply Article 15(1) and (2); and — Article 16(3) second subparagraph, which shall apply from 11 January 2013.
  • Entry into force on 1 December 2010
  • Condition applicable from 11 January 2012
    As from 11 January 2012, by way of derogation from Directive 76/768/EEC, notification carried out in accordance with Article 13 of this Regulation shall be considered to comply with Article 7(3) and Article 7a(4) of that Directive
  • Application from 11 January 2013
    July 2013, with the exception of: — Article 15(1) and (2) which shall apply from 1 December 2010, as well as Articles 14, 31 and 32 to the extent that they are necessary to apply Article 15(1) and (2); and — Article 16(3) second subparagraph, which shall apply from 11 January 2013.
  • Entry into force on 11 January 2013
  • Application from 11 July 2013
    It shall apply from 11 July 2013, with the exception of: — Article 15(1) and (2) which shall apply from 1 December 2010, as well as Articles 14, 31 and 32 to the extent that they are necessary to apply Article 15(1) and (2); and — Article 16(3) second subparagraph, which shall appl
  • Entry into force on 11 July 2013
  • Placing on the market before 11 July 2013
    Article 39 Transitional provisions By way of derogation from Directive 76/768/EEC, cosmetic products which comply with this Regulation may be placed on the market before 11 July 2013.
  • Placing on the market from 11 July 2013
    As from 11 July 2013, a distributor who makes available in a Member State a cosmetic product already placed on the market in another Member State and translates, on his own initiative, any element of the labelling of that product in order to comply with national law, shall submit, by electronic means, the following info

Excerpts from the English text published in the Official Journal. A date may concern only some substances of the act: the excerpt says so.

Identity

CosIng identifier
32129
CAS (according to CosIng)
63449-41-2, 68391-01-5, 68424-85-1, 85409-22-9
EC (according to CosIng)
264-151-6, 269-919-4, 270-325-2, 287-089-1
Declared functions
Antimicrobial, Antistatic, Deodorant, Preservative, Surfactant: dispersing

CosIng cites 4 CAS numbers for this name: it covers several substances.

Classified hazard (CLP Regulation)

The harmonised classification is the one set by the European Union for the whole Union. H codes refer to the hazard statements of Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008.

quaternary ammonium compounds, benzyl-C8-18-alkyldimethyl, chlorides

Neither carcinogenic, mutagenic nor toxic for reproduction under the harmonised classification

Hazard classes
Acute toxicity, category 4 (Acute Tox. 4)
Skin corrosion, category 1B (Skin Corr. 1B)
Hazardous to the aquatic environment, short term, category 1 (Aquatic Acute 1)
Hazard statements
H312 H302 H314 H400

EU product alerts (Safety Gate)

2 alerts on cosmetic products cite this name in their hazard description. An alert targets a specific product, not the ingredient itself; each alert states the reason (prohibited substance, limit exceeded, missing labelling, and so on).

  • 7 August 2015: Eyebrow enhancer, Feg, Bulgaria (“Serious risk”) alert
  • 28 March 2014: Eyelash enhancer, Feg, Finland (“Serious risk”) alert

Elsewhere in the world

Information on other jurisdictions, with no effect on sale in France. What is covered, and what is not yet.

United Kingdom (Great Britain)

  • Allowed with restrictions (Annex III)
  • Preservative allowed under conditions (Annex V)

Same entries as in the European Union. Conditions (concentrations, warnings) may differ: they are not compared here.

Switzerland

Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 applies in Switzerland (Article 54 of the Ordinance on Foodstuffs and Utility Articles).

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.

Japan

  • Allowed under conditions: 塩化ベンザルコニウム (Benzalkonium chloride)

    Annex 3-2 (allowed preservatives), entry 5, page 8.

    Conditions, source text, in Japanese

    [sub-list] 2　化粧品の種類により配合の制限がある成分(注1) | 100g中の最大配合量（ｇ） / 粘膜に使用されることがない化粧品のうち洗い流すもの: ○ | 100g中の最大配合量（ｇ） / 粘膜に使用されることがない化粧品のうち洗い流さないもの: 0.050 | 100g中の最大配合量（ｇ） / 粘膜に使用されることがある化粧品: 0.050 | (注1)　空欄は、配合してはならないことを示し、○印は、配合の上限がないことを示す。

South Korea

  • Restricted: 벤잘코늄클로라이드, 브로마이드 및 사카리네이트 (BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE)

    별표 2, 보존제 성분 (preservatives), entry 13, page 3. Limit: ․사용 후 씻어내는 제품에 벤잘코늄클로라이드로서 0.1% ․기타 제품에 벤잘코늄클로라이드로서 0.05%.

    Conditions, source text, in Korean

    비고: 분사형 제품에 벤잘코늄클로라이드는 사용금지 | 화학물질명: 벤잘코늄클로라이드 (CAS No. 85409-22-9) | 화학물질명: 벤잘코늄클로라이드 ([?][?][?]) (CAS No. 63449-41-2) | 화학물질명: 벤잘코늄클로라이드 ([?][?][?]) (CAS No. 8001-54-5) | 화학물질명: 벤잘코늄클로라이드 ([?][?][?]) (CAS No. 68391-01-5 / 68424-85-1) | 화학물질명: Coco alkyl dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride (CAS No. 61789-71-7) | 화학물질명: 벤잘코늄브로마이드 (CAS No. 91080-29-4) | 화학물질명: 벤잘코늄사카리네이트 (CAS No. 68989-01-5)

Brazil

  • Allowed under conditions: Cloreto, brometo e sacarinato de alquil(C8-C18) dimetilbenzilamônio (*) (BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE/ BENZALKONIUM BROMIDE/ BENZALKONIUM SACCHARINATE)

    RDC 528/2021, Anexo (allowed preservatives), entry 53, page 5. Limit: 0.1% (expresso como cloreto de benzalcônio).

    Conditions, source text, in Portuguese

    CONDIÇÕES DE USO E ADVERTÊNCIAS: Evitar o contato com os olhos.

Recorded cosmetics that contain it

46 recorded products list it, according to Open Beauty Facts contributors. Records are dated: the formula may have changed. See the list (in French).

Glossary: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175. Page updated on 21 October 2026.