Compoatlas

DIETHYLHEXYL PHTHALATE

Official label name (INCI name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 8612

DIETHYLHEXYL PHTHALATE: Prohibited in cosmetics (Annex II, entry 677), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.

In plain words

What it is used for

Functions declared by manufacturers:

Fragrance.

Plasticiser: softens and makes supple another substance that otherwise could not be easily deformed, spread or worked out.

Solvent: dissolves other substances.

Perfuming.

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 toxic for reproduction, category 1B (presumed effect, established mainly from animal studies).

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 European Union has identified it as an endocrine disruptor: a substance that alters the functioning of the hormonal system and causes adverse effects. This alone does not prohibit it in cosmetics: a legal text must add it to the annexes.

The text of the annexes

Prohibited in cosmetics

CosIng links the name DIETHYLHEXYL PHTHALATE to this Annex II entry.

Entry
Annex II, No 677
Substance
bis(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate; (Diethylhexyl phthalate)
CAS
117-81-7
EC
204-211-0
CMR
Reprotoxic Cat. 1B()
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
84561
CAS (according to CosIng)
117-81-7
EC (according to CosIng)
204-211-0
Declared functions
Fragrance, Plasticiser, Solvent, Perfuming

Classified hazard (CLP Regulation)

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

bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate; di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate; DEHP

CMR Repr. 1B

Hazard classes
Repr. 1B
Hazard statements
H360FD

Already prohibited in cosmetics (Annex II).

Endocrine disruptor

These lists record an evaluation, not a prohibition: in cosmetics, a substance identified as an endocrine disruptor is prohibited only if a legal text adds it to the annexes.

  • Identified as an endocrine disruptor at EU level

Recorded evaluations

  • Candidate list, REACH (health and environment)

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

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.

South Korea

  • Prohibited: 프탈레이트류(디부틸프탈레이트, 디에틸헥실프탈레이트, 부틸벤질프탈레이트에 한함) (DIETHYLHEXYL PHTHALATE)

    별표 1 (prohibited substances), entry 962, page 48. Conditions (source text, in Korean): 화학물질명: 디부틸프탈레이트 (CAS No. 84-74-2) | 화학물질명: 디에틸헥실프탈레이트 (CAS No. 117-81-7) | 화학물질명: 부틸벤질프탈레이트 (CAS No. 85-68-7)

China

  • Prohibited: 邻苯二甲酸双（2-乙基己基）酯 (Bis （2-ethylhexyl） phthalate （Diethylhexyl phthalate） （CAS No. 117-81-7）)

    表1 化妆品禁用原料目录 (prohibited substances, 2021年第74号), entry 353, page 附件2 (.doc) table row 353 ; TID reprint p.15.

Australia

  • Prohibited for the stated use: DIETHYLHEXYL PHTHALATE

    Poisons Standard, Schedule 10 (formerly Appendix C), page 315. Conditions (source text): for cosmetic use.

Brazil

  • Prohibited: Ftalato de bis(2-etilhexila)

    RDC 529/2021, Anexo (prohibited substances), entry 677, page 24. Conditions (source text, in Portuguese): N° UE: 677

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