Compoatlas

CHLOROFORM

Official label name (INCI name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 6224

CHLOROFORM: Prohibited in cosmetics (Annex II, entry 366), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.

In plain words

What it is used for

Functions declared by manufacturers:

Solvent: dissolves other substances.

What the rules say

It is prohibited to use it in a cosmetic product sold in the European Union, whatever the dose. If it appears on the ingredient list of a recent product, this needs checking: the record may be old or wrong, or the product intended for another market.

Hazard and risk

The CLP Regulation classifies this substance as carcinogenic, category 2 (suspected effect, without enough evidence for a higher category) and toxic for reproduction, category 2 (suspected effect, without enough evidence for a higher category).

This classification describes what the substance can cause (a hazard), not what happens when using a product (a risk): the risk depends on the dose, the form and the route of exposure (skin, inhalation, ingestion).

Already prohibited in cosmetics (Annex II).

The text of the annexes

Prohibited in cosmetics

CosIng links the name CHLOROFORM to this Annex II entry.

Entry
Annex II, No 366
Substance
Chloroform
CAS
67-66-3
EC
200-663-8
CMR
Carcinogenic Cat. 2()
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
84482
CAS (according to CosIng)
67-66-3
EC (according to CosIng)
200-663-8
Declared functions
Solvent

Classified hazard (CLP Regulation)

A classification describes an intrinsic hazard, not a risk: the risk depends on the dose, the form and the exposure.

chloroform; trichloromethane

CMR Carc. 2 ; Repr. 2

Hazard classes
Carc. 2
Repr. 2
Acute Tox. 3
Acute Tox. 4
STOT RE 1
Eye Irrit. 2
Skin Irrit. 2
Hazard statements
H351 H361d H331 H302 H372 H319 H315

Already prohibited in cosmetics (Annex II).

EU product alerts (Safety Gate)

1 alert 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).

  • 6 September 2019: Glue for false nails, Unknown, Cyprus (“Serious risk”) alert

Elsewhere in the world

Information on other jurisdictions. What is covered, and what is not yet.

United Kingdom (Great Britain)

  • Prohibited in cosmetics (Annex II)

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

  • Prohibited: Use of chloroform as an ingredient in cosmetic products

    21 CFR 700.18. (a) Chloroform has been used as an ingredient in cosmetic products. Recent information has become available associating chloroform with carcinogenic effects in animals. Studies conducted by the National Cancer Institute have demonstrated that the oral administration of chloroform to mice and rats induced hepatocellular carcinomas (liver cancer) in mice and renal tumors in male rats. Scientific literature indicates that chloroform is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, through the respiratory system, and through the skin. The Commissioner concludes that, on the basis of these findings, chloroform is a deleterious substance which may render injurious to users any cosmetic product that contains chloroform as an ingredient. (b) Any cosmetic product containing chloroform as an ingredient is adulterated and is subject to regulatory action under sections 301 and 601(a) of the Federal Food…

Japan

  • Prohibited: クロロホルム (Chloroform)

    Annex 1 (prohibited substances), entry 10, page 3.

South Korea

  • Prohibited: 클로로포름 (CHLOROFORM)

    별표 1 (prohibited substances), entry 763, page 40.

China

  • Prohibited: 氯仿 (Chloroform （CAS No. 67-66-3）)

    表1 化妆品禁用原料目录 (prohibited substances, 2021年第74号), entry 399, page 附件2 (.doc) table row 399 ; TID reprint p.16.

Brazil

  • Prohibited: Clorofórmio

    RDC 529/2021, Anexo (prohibited substances), entry 366, page 14. Conditions (source text, in Portuguese): N° UE: 366

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