METHENAMINE
Official label name (INCI name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 16319
- Preservative allowed under conditions (Annex V)
METHENAMINE: Preservative allowed under conditions, maximum 0.15% in the ready-for-use preparation (Annex V, entry 30), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
In plain words
What it is used for
Functions declared by manufacturers:
Antimicrobial: helps control the growth of micro-organisms on the skin.
Preservative: inhibits primarily the development of micro-organisms in cosmetics.
What the rules say
An ingredient can be used as a preservative only if it appears on the list of Annex V. <function plain_language.<locals>.name at 0x7f7805a971a0> is on it with a maximum concentration.
The text of the annexes
Preservative allowed under conditions
- Entry
- Annex V, No 30
- Substance
- Methenamine
- Glossary names
- METHENAMINE
- CAS
- 100-97-0
- EC
- 202-905-8
- Maximum concentration
- 0.15%
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
- 35256
- CAS (according to CosIng)
- 100-97-0
- EC (according to CosIng)
- 202-905-8
- Declared functions
- Antimicrobial, Preservative
- Wikidata
- Q71969
- PubChem
- 4101
- ECHA InfoCard
- 100.002.642
- InChIKey
- VKYKSIONXSXAKP-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Classified hazard (CLP Regulation)
A classification describes an intrinsic hazard, not a risk: the risk depends on the dose, the form and the exposure.
methenamine; hexamethylenetetramine
No harmonised CMR classification
- Hazard classes
- Flam. Sol. 2
Skin Sens. 1 - Hazard statements
- H228 H317
Elsewhere in the world
Information on other jurisdictions. What is covered, and what is not yet.
United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Preservative allowed under conditions (Annex V)
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.
Washington State (United States)
- Prohibited: Methenamine
libérateur n° 18, from 1 January 2027. Prohibited when intentionally added; a retailer in the state may sell existing stock until January 1, 2028.
South Korea
- Restricted: 메텐아민(헥사메칠렌테트라아민) (METHENAMINE)
별표 2, 보존제 성분 (preservatives), entry 11, page 2. Limit: 0.15%.
China
- Prohibited: 乌洛托品 (Methenamine （CAS No. 100-97-0）)
表1 化妆品禁用原料目录 (prohibited substances, 2021年第74号), entry 1282, page 附件2 (.doc) table row 1282 ; TID reprint p.48.
Australia
- Subject to conditions (threshold, labelling or packaging): METHENAMINE
Poisons Standard, Schedule 5 (cosmetic entries), page 219. Thresholds cited: 0.15% or less. Conditions (source text): in cosmetic preparations, except in preparations containing 0.15% or less of methenamine.
Brazil
- Allowed under conditions: Hexametilenotetramina (METHENAMINE)
RDC 528/2021, Anexo (allowed preservatives), entry 47, page 4. Limit: 0,15%.
Glossary: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175. Page updated on 21 October 2026.