COCOALKONIUM CHLORIDE
Official label name (INCIInternational name of cosmetic ingredients: the one printed on the pack. name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 7122
- Preservative allowed under conditions (Annex V)
- Cited as an example in a rule, no rule of its own (Annex III)
COCOALKONIUM CHLORIDE: Preservative allowed under conditions, maximum 0.1% in the ready-for-use preparation (as benzalkonium chloride) (Annex V, entry 54); cited as an example in a rule, no rule of its own (Annex III, entry 65), 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 V, entry 54, requires this to be printed on the pack: “Avoid contact with eyes”.
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:
Antistatic: reduces static electricity by neutralising electrical charge on a surface.
Hair conditioning: leaves the hair easy to comb, supple, soft and shiny and/or imparts volume, lightness, gloss, etc.
Preservative: inhibits primarily the development of micro-organisms in cosmetics.
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
An ingredient can be used as a preservative only if it appears on the list of Annex V. COCOALKONIUM CHLORIDE is on it with a maximum concentration and with a warning to print.
This name is only cited as an example in an entry of Annex III, which covers a family of substances: the exact conditions depend on the form used.
CosIng, Annex V of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (allowed preservatives), retrieved 23 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
CosIng, Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (restricted substances), 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.
Present in 0.0% of recorded cosmetics (3 out of 21 443).
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
CosIng cites the name COCOALKONIUM CHLORIDE in this entry, whose regulated name is “BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE / BENZALKONIUM BROMIDE / BENZALKONIUM SACCHARINATE”: the title below says which form or use it covers.
- 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
This entry covers the same substance as COCOALKONIUM CHLORIDE (same CAS number in the CosIng inventory): its conditions apply.
- 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 V, entry 54: introduced or replaced by Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009
Annex V, entry 54: applies from this date
Identity
- CosIng identifier
- 32955
- CAS (according to CosIng)
- 61789-71-7
- EC (according to CosIng)
- 263-080-8
- Declared functions
- Antistatic, Hair conditioning, Preservative
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 | Preservative allowed under conditions | 0.1% |
| United Kingdom | Preservative allowed under conditions | 0.1% |
| Switzerland | EU Regulation applies | 0.1% |
| United States (federal) | No federal rule recorded | not cited |
| Canada | Restricted (conditions or maximum concentration) | 0.1 to 3% |
| 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 | Allowed preservative | 0.1% |
| Taiwan | Allowed preservative | 0.1% |
| Brazil | Allowed under conditions | 0.1% |
United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Preservative allowed under conditions (Annex V)
- Cited as an example in a rule, no rule of its own (Annex III)
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.
Canada
- Restricted (conditions or maximum concentration): Chlorure de benzalkonium (Benzalkonium chloride)
Hotlist, restricted ingredients. a) As a preservative (i.e. benzalkonium chloride with chain lengths ≤ 14 C).: maximum concentration 0.1% | b) As a conditioning agent in rinse-off hair care products, (i.e. benzalkonium chloride with chain lengths ≥ 16 C).: maximum concentration 3% | Synonyms and related compounds: Alkyl(C12-C18)benzyldimethylammonium chloride; Alkyl(C12-16)dimethylbenzylammonium chloride
Canada, Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist (prohibited and restricted ingredients), retrieved 24 October 2026.
Source: Health Canada, Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist (canada.ca, French and English pages); table extracted and formatted by the publisher of this site, not the official version, with no endorsement by Health Canada.
South Korea
- Restricted: 벤잘코늄클로라이드, 브로마이드 및 사카리네이트 (COCOALKONIUM 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)
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)
- 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
- 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.
Recorded cosmetics that contain it
3 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 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.
Glossary: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175. Page updated on 23 October 2026.