Compoatlas

HEXACHLOROPHENE

Official label name (INCI name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 11838

HEXACHLOROPHENE: Prohibited in cosmetics (Annex II, entry 371), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.

In plain words

What it is used for

Functions declared by manufacturers:

Preservative: inhibits primarily the development of micro-organisms in cosmetics.

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.

The text of the annexes

Prohibited in cosmetics

CosIng links the name HEXACHLOROPHENE to this Annex II entry.

Entry
Annex II, No 371
Substance
2,2'-Dihydroxy-3,3',5,5',6,6'-hexachlorodiphenylmethane (Hexachlorophene (INN))
CAS
70-30-4
EC
200-733-8
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
84606
Declared functions
Preservative

CosIng cites no CAS number for this name.

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

  • Restricted: Hexachlorophene, as a component of drug and cosmetic products

    21 CFR 250.250. (a) Antibacterial component. The use of hexachlorophene as an antibacterial component in drug and cosmetic products has expanded widely in recent years. It is used in such products because of its bacteriostatic action against gram-positive organisms, especially against strains of staphylococcus; however, hexachlorophene offers no protection against gram-negative infections. In addition the antibacterial activity depends largely on repeated use. A notice published in the Federal Register of April 4, 1972 (37 FR 6775), invited data on OTC antimicrobial ingredients, including hexachlorophene, for review by an OTC Drug Advisory Review Panel to be convened under the procedures set forth in the Federal Register of May 11, 1972 (37 FR 9464). This statement of policy will remain in effect unless and until replaced by a monograph resulting from the OTC Drug Advisory Review Panel. (b) Adverse effe…

Australia

  • Subject to conditions (threshold, labelling or packaging): HEXACHLOROPHENE

    Poisons Standard, Schedule 6 (cosmetic entries), page 261. Conditions (source text): : | (a) in preparations for the treatment of animals; or | (b) for cosmetic use.

  • Pharmacy only, in the cases stated: HEXACHLOROPHENE

    Poisons Standard, Schedule 2 (cosmetic entries), page 71. Thresholds cited: 3% or less | 0.75% or less. Conditions (source text): in preparations for human use containing 3% or less of hexachlorophene except | (a) in preparations for use on infants, as specified in Schedule 4; or | (b) in preparations for cosmetic use, as specified in Schedule 6; or | (c) in other preparations containing 0.75% or less of hexachlorophene.

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