FERROUS SULFATE (iron(II) sulfate)
See the summary at the top of this page. CosIng, Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (prohibited substances), Consulted on 23 October 2026.
Official label name (INCIInternational name of cosmetic ingredients: the one printed on the pack. name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 10465
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
For informationOfficial information with no condition on a finished product: warning to read, irritation of the pure substance.
For information Classified under the CLP Regulation: eye irritation, category 2 (Eye Irrit. 2); skin irritation, category 2 (Skin Irrit. 2). This classification describes the pure substance; in a finished product it is far more diluted.
For information Classified under the CLP Regulation: eye irritation, category 2 (Eye Irrit. 2); skin irritation, category 2 (Skin Irrit. 2). This classification describes the pure substance; in a finished product it is far more diluted.
Environment
No harmonised classification as hazardous to the aquatic environment, and no EU act identifies it as an endocrine disruptor for the environment.
Read on the label
The Cosmetics Regulation requires no warning to be printed for this ingredient.
Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), consolidated version, Annex VI table 3, retrieved 21 October 2026.
In plain words
What it is used for
Functions declared by manufacturers:
The functions and their explanations appear in the summary.
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.
CosIng, list of cosmetic functions, retrieved 30 October 2026; source text read on 30 October 2026.
What the rules say
No EU rule targets this ingredient specifically. It remains subject to the general rule: every product must undergo a safety assessment before it is sold (Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009), under the manufacturer's responsibility.
See the summary at the top of this page.
What we know about this ingredient
Consumer uses
Intermediate
Processing aids not otherwise specified
Soil amendments (fertilizers)
Surfactant (surface active agent)
Industry uses
Catalyst
Cloud-point depressant
Deodorizer
Flocculating agent
Intermediate
Processing aids not otherwise specified
Soil amendments (fertilizers)
Solids separation (precipitating) agent, not otherwise specified
Use classification
Cosmetics -> Astringent
Uses
Catalysts, pigments, drugs, agriculture, nutrition, metallurgy, and leather tanning. /Iron compounds/
In manufacture of iron, iron cmpd, other sulfates; in iron electroplating baths; in fertilizer; as food and feed supplement; in radiation dosimeters; as reducing agent in chemical processes; as wood preservative; as weed killer; in prevention of chlorosis in plants; in other pesticides; in writing ink; in process engraving and lithography; as dye for leather; in etching aluminum; in water treatment; in qualitative analysis ("brown ring" test for nitrates); as polymerization catalyst.
MEDICATION (VET): In iron deficiency, astringent.
MEDICATION: hematinic
PubChem : Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) · 2026-10-29 · Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. 4th ed. Volumes 1: New York, NY. John Wiley and Sons, 1991-Present., p. V14: 873 (1995); O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. 13th Edition, Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 2001., p. 717.
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.
Manufacturing
Available as a by-product of the manufacture of titanium dioxide. /Ferrous sulfate heptahydrate/
By-product from pickling of steel and many chemical operations. ...Oxidation of pyrites in air followed by leaching and treatment with scrap iron. /Heptahydrate/
Prepared commercially by the action of sulfuric acid on iron. /Ferrous sulfate heptahydrate/
PubChem : Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) · 2026-10-29 · Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. 3rd ed., Volumes 1-26. New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons, 1978-1984., p. 24(84) 397; Lewis, R.J., Sr (Ed.). Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary. 13th ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1997., p. 497; O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. 13th Edition, Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 2001., p. 717.
Appearance
White orthorhombic crystals, hygroscopic
Ferrous sulfate appears as a greenish or yellow-brown crystalline solid. Density 15.0 lb /gal. Melts at 64 °C and loses the seven waters of hydration at 90 °C. The primary hazard is the threat to the environment. Immediate steps should be taken to limit its spread to the environment. Used for water or sewage treatment, as a fertilizer ingredient.
Large Crystals; CBI; Dry Powder; Other Solid; Liquid; Dry Powder; Large Crystals
PubChem : Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) · 2026-10-29 · Lide, DR (ed.). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. 81st Edition. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton: FL 2000, p. 4-65.
PubChem : CAMEO Chemicals · 2026-10-29 · https://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/chemical/3478.
PubChem : EPA Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) · 2026-10-29 · https://www.epa.gov/chemical-data-reporting.
Stability
In moist air, ferrous sulfate rapidly oxidizes and becomes coated with brownish-yellow ferric sulfate... . The rate of oxidation is increased by the addition of alkali or by exposure to light.
Other names: sulfate de fer(II) (French), iron(II) sulfate (English), Eisen-sulfat (German), sulfato de hierro(II) (Spanish), solfato ferroso (Italian), sulfato de ferro (II) (Portuguese).
Wikidata: names of substances in six languages and taxa in which they occur (largely from the LOTUS database), retrieved 23 October 2026.
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
No specific rule of the EU Cosmetics Regulation names this ingredient: it is on none of its lists (prohibited, restricted, colorants, preservatives, UV filters). It may be used under the responsibility of the manufacturer, who must ensure the product is safe.
Search in Annexes II to VI. CosIng, Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (prohibited substances), retrieved 23 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
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.
CLP classification “Acute Tox. 4 *” applicable at the latest from this date (Regulation (EU) 2018/669)
Identity
- CosIng identifier
- 33930
- CAS (according to CosIng)
- 7720-78-7
- EC (according to CosIng)
- 231-753-5
- Declared functions
- Astringent
- Wikidata
- Q214863
- PubChem
- 24393
- ECHA InfoCard
- 100.028.867
- InChIKey
- BAUYGSIQEAFULO-UHFFFAOYSA-L
CosIng inventory. CosIng, inventory of cosmetic ingredients (INCI names, CAS, EC, functions), retrieved 21 October 2026.
Wikidata, items with a CosIng identifier (P3073), retrieved 22 October 2026.
Wikidata, PubChem and ECHAEuropean Chemicals Agency. links are published only when verified: same CosIng identifier, a single item, matching CAS number.
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.
iron (II) sulfate
Neither carcinogenic, mutagenic nor toxic for reproduction under the harmonised classification
- Hazard classes
- Acute toxicity, category 4 (Acute Tox. 4)
Eye irritation, category 2 (Eye Irrit. 2)
Skin irritation, category 2 (Skin Irrit. 2) - Hazard statements
- H302 H319 H315
Annex VI, entry 026-003-00-7, linked by CAS 7720-78-7. Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), consolidated version, Annex VI table 3, retrieved 21 October 2026.
Entry introduced or replaced by Regulation (EU) 2018/669, applicable at the latest from 1 December 2019.
iron (II) sulfate (1:1) heptahydrate; sulfuric acid, iron(II) salt (1:1), heptahydrate; ferrous sulfate heptahydrate
Neither carcinogenic, mutagenic nor toxic for reproduction under the harmonised classification
- Hazard classes
- Acute toxicity, category 4 (Acute Tox. 4)
Eye irritation, category 2 (Eye Irrit. 2)
Skin irritation, category 2 (Skin Irrit. 2) - Hazard statements
- H302 H319 H315
Annex VI, entry 026-003-01-4, linked by EC 231-753-5. Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), consolidated version, Annex VI table 3, retrieved 21 October 2026.
Entry introduced or replaced by Regulation (EU) 2018/669, applicable at the latest from 1 December 2019.
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 | No specific rule in the Cosmetics Regulation | not cited |
| United Kingdom | No specific rule in the Cosmetics Regulation | not cited |
| Switzerland | EU Regulation applies | not cited |
| 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 | 6% |
| 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 | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| Taiwan | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| Brazil | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- No specific rule in the Cosmetics Regulation
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: 황산철수화물 (FeSO4ㆍ7H2O)
별표 2, 염모제 성분 (hair colorants), entry 43, page 21. Limit: 비산화염모제에 6%.
Conditions, source text, in Korean
비고: 산화 염모제에 사용금지
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.
Found in 2 US nonprescription products (openFDA).
Glossary: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175. Page updated on 23 October 2026.