BENZALKONIUM SACCHARINATE
Official label name (INCIInternational name of cosmetic ingredients: the one printed on the pack. name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 3201
- Allowed with restrictions (Annex III)
- Preservative allowed under conditions (Annex V)
BENZALKONIUM SACCHARINATE: Allowed with restrictions, maximum 3% in the ready-for-use preparation (as benzalkonium chloride), only in: Rinse-off hair (head) products (Annex III, entry 65); preservative allowed under conditions, maximum 0.1% in the ready-for-use preparation (as benzalkonium chloride) (Annex V, entry 54), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Annexes of the Regulation consulted on 23 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 harmonised 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 65, requires this to be printed on the pack: “Avoid contact with the eyes”.
For information Annex V, entry 54, requires this to be printed on the pack: “Avoid contact with eyes”.
CosIng, Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (restricted substances), retrieved 23 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
CosIng, Annex V of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (allowed preservatives), retrieved 23 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
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).
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 preservative only if it appears on the list of Annex V. BENZALKONIUM SACCHARINATE is on it with a maximum concentration and with a warning to print.
CosIng, Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (restricted substances), retrieved 23 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
CosIng, Annex V of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (allowed preservatives), retrieved 23 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
Origin and odour
No natural occurrence recorded in Wikidata (LOTUS database); this does not prove that the ingredient is synthetic.
Basis: one CosIng CAS, with no natural occurrence recorded in this database.
Wikidata: names of substances in six languages and taxa in which they occur (largely from the LOTUS database), retrieved 23 October 2026.
Other names: myristalkonium saccharinate (English).
Wikidata: names of substances in six languages and taxa in which they occur (largely from the LOTUS database), retrieved 23 October 2026.
Present in 0.0% of recorded cosmetics (0 out of 20 266).
Open Beauty Facts, export of cosmetic products, retrieved 23 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.
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
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex III, entry 65. CosIng, Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (restricted substances), retrieved 23 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
Entry from Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, adopted on 30 November 2009.
SCCSEU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety: it assesses cosmetic ingredients. opinions cited: Opinion concerning Restrictions on Materials listed in annex VI of Directive 76/768/EEC on Cosmetic Products.
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
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex V, entry 54. CosIng, Annex V of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (allowed preservatives), retrieved 23 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
Entry from Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, adopted on 30 November 2009.
SCCS opinions cited: Opinion concerning Restrictions on Materials listed in annex VI of Directive 76/768/EEC on Cosmetic Products.
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 III, entry 65: introduced or replaced by Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009
Annex V, entry 54: introduced or replaced by Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009
Annex III, entry 65: applies from this date
Annex V, entry 54: applies from this date
Identity
- CosIng identifier
- 32130
- CAS (according to CosIng)
- 68989-01-5
- EC (according to CosIng)
- 273-545-7
- Declared functions
- Antimicrobial, Antistatic, Deodorant, Preservative, Surfactant: dispersing
CosIng inventory. CosIng, inventory of cosmetic ingredients (INCI names, CAS, EC, functions), retrieved 21 October 2026.
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 | 0.1 to 3% |
| United Kingdom | Allowed with restrictions | 0.1 to 3% |
| Switzerland | EU Regulation applies | 0.1 to 3% |
| United States (federal) | No federal rule recorded | not cited |
| Canada | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| Japan | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| South Korea | Restricted differs from the EU | 0.05 to 0.1% |
| 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 |
| ASEAN | Restricted (conditions or maximum concentration) differs from the EU | 0.1 to 3% |
| Taiwan | Restricted (conditions or maximum concentration) differs from the EU | 0.1 to 3% |
| Brazil | Allowed under conditions | 0.1% |
United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Allowed with restrictions (Annex III)
- Preservative allowed under conditions (Annex V)
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
- Restricted: 벤잘코늄클로라이드, 브로마이드 및 사카리네이트 (BENZALKONIUM SACCHARINATE)
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)
South Korea, MFDS Regulation on Safety Standards for Cosmetics, Notification 2026-19, retrieved 22 October 2026.
Source: 식품의약품안전처 (MFDS), 화장품 안전기준 등에 관한 규정, via law.go.kr; table formatted by the publisher of this site.
ASEAN (South-East Asia)
- Restricted (conditions or maximum concentration): Benzalkonium chloride, bromide and saccharinate Benzalkonium Bromide Benzalkonium Chloride Benzalkonium saccharinate
Annex III (restricted substances), entry 65, page 137. Limit: (a) 3% (as benzalkonium chloride) (b) 0.1% (as benzalkonium chloride).
Conditions, source text
Field of application and/or use: (a) Rinse-off hair (head) care products (b) Other products | Other limitations and requirements: (a) 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( As a preservative, see Annex VI, Part 1, No.54 For purposes other than inhibiting the development of micro-organisms in the product. This purpose has to be apparent from the presentation of the product. | Conditions of use and warning which must be printed on the labels: (a) Avoid contact with eyes (b) Avoid contact with eyes
- Allowed preservative: Benzalkonium chloride, bromide and saccharinate (13) Benzalkonium chloride (CAS No. 8001-54-5, 63449-41-2, 68424-85-1, 68391-01-5, 61789-71-7, 85409-22-9),Benzalkonium bromide (CAS No. 91080-29-4), Benzalkonium saccharinate (CAS No. 68989-01-5)
Annex VI (allowed preservatives), entry 54, page 277. Limit: 0.1% calculated as Benzalkonium chloride.
Conditions, source text
Conditions of use and warnings which must be printed on the label: - Avoid contact with the eyes | Note (13): For non-preservative usage see Annex III. Part 1, entry 65
ASEAN Cosmetic Directive, Annexes II, III, IV, VI and VII (version 2026-1 of 22 June 2026, Annex VII 2025-2), retrieved 24 October 2026.
Source: ASEAN Cosmetic Documents, Annexes of the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive, as published by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA, Singapore); table extracted and formatted by the publisher of this site, with no endorsement by HSA or ASEAN.
Taiwan
- Restricted (conditions or maximum concentration): Benzalkonium chloride, bromide and saccharinate 註
化粧品成分使用限制表 (restricted substances). Limit: 3% (以 benzalkonium chloride計) Benzalkonium chloride, bromide及saccharinate成分之烷基鏈長為C14以下者，其限量為0.1%(以 benzalkonium chloride計)。.
Conditions, source text, in Chinese
INCI：Benzalkonium bromide ; Benzalkonium chloride ; Benzalkonium saccharinate | 產品類型／使用範圍：立即沖洗之髮用產品 | 應刊載之注意事項：使用時避免接觸眼睛。
- Allowed preservative: Benzalkonium chloride, bromide and saccharinate(1)
化粧品防腐劑成分名稱及使用限制表 (allowed preservatives). Limit: 0.1% (以benzalkonium chloride計).
Conditions, source text, in Chinese
INCI：Benzalkonium chloride ; Benzalkonium bromide ; Benzalkonium saccharinate | 應刊載之注意事項：使用時避免接觸眼睛。
Taiwan, TFDA cosmetic ingredient tables (prohibited, restricted, preservatives, UV filters, colorants), open data, retrieved 24 October 2026.
Source: Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA), open datasets on data.gov.tw (Open Government Data License, version 1.0); table formatted by the publisher of this site.
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.
Brazil, ANVISA resolutions RDC 529/2021, 528/2021, 600/2022 and 628/2022, retrieved 22 October 2026.
Source: ANVISA. Text of the adopted draft resolutions, as the Official Journal could not be accessed; the 2021 lists of prohibited substances and preservatives were compared with the copy of the published text distributed by the State of Paraná, the 2022 lists of UV filters and colorants were not.
Glossary: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175. Page updated on 23 October 2026.