SILVER
Official label name (INCI name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 26139
- Prohibited for certain particle sizes (Annex II)
- Allowed with restrictions (Annex III)
- Colorant allowed under conditions (Annex IV)
SILVER: Prohibited for certain particle sizes (Annex II, entry 1727); allowed with restrictions, with limits depending on the product type (Annex III, entry 379); colorant allowed under conditions, with limits depending on the product type (Annex IV, entry 142), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
In plain words
What it is used for
Functions declared by manufacturers:
Colorant: colours cosmetics and/or imparts colour to the skin and/or its appendages.
Deodorant: reduces or masks unpleasant body odours.
Miscellaneous (skin conditioning): maintains the skin in good condition.
What the rules say
Only the forms defined by particle size are prohibited: nano form (1 nm < particle diameter ≤ 100 nm); massive form (particle diameter ≥ 1 mm). Particles of other sizes are not covered by this entry.
Allowed, with restrictions: Annex III sets a maximum concentration and the product types allowed. Ingredient lists do not give quantities, so the concentration cannot be checked on the label.
An ingredient can be used as a colorant only if it appears on the list of Annex IV. <function plain_language.<locals>.name at 0x7f7805acfce0> is on it with a maximum concentration, for some product types only and with a warning to print.
Hazard and risk
A specific form or grade of this substance (the one described in the title of the CLP entry) is classified as toxic for reproduction, category 2 (suspected effect, without enough evidence for a higher category). Its other forms fall under another entry.
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).
The text of the annexes
Prohibited for certain particle sizes
CosIng links the name SILVER to this entry. The cases of prohibition are explained above, in “In plain words”; the official title is given below.
- Entry
- Annex II, No 1727
- Substance
- Silver (nano) [1 nm < particle diameter ≤ 100 nm] Silver (massive) [particle diameter ≥ 1 mm]
- CAS
- 7440-22-4
- EC
- 231-131-3
Dates in the act (3)
- Entry into force on 2 February 2026
- Application from 1 May 2026
It shall apply from 1 May 2026.
- Entry into force on 1 May 2026
Excerpts from the English text published in the Official Journal. A date may concern only some substances of the act: the excerpt says so.
Allowed with restrictions
- Entry
- Annex III, No 379
- Substance
- Silver (powder) [100 nm < particle diameter < 1 mm]
- Glossary names
- Silver
- CAS
- 7440-22-4
- EC
- 231-131-3
- Product type
- (a) Toothpaste (b) Mouthwash
- Maximum concentration
- For (a) and (b): 0,05 %
Dates in the act (3)
- Entry into force on 2 February 2026
- Application from 1 May 2026
It shall apply from 1 May 2026.
- Entry into force on 1 May 2026
Excerpts from the English text published in the Official Journal. A date may concern only some substances of the act: the excerpt says so.
Colorant allowed under conditions
This entry covers the same substance as SILVER (same CAS number in the CosIng inventory): its conditions apply.
- Entry
- Annex IV, No 142
- Substance
- Silver (powder) [100 nm < particle diameter < 1 mm]
- Glossary names
- CI 77820
- CAS
- 7440-22-4
- EC
- 231-131-3
- Product type
- (a) Lip products (b) Eye shadow
- Maximum concentration
- For (a) and (b): 0,2 %’
- Warnings
- Purity criteria as set out in Commission Directive 95/45/EC (E174)
Dates in the act (3)
- Entry into force on 2 February 2026
- Application from 1 May 2026
It shall apply from 1 May 2026.
- Entry into force on 1 May 2026
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
- 91080
- CAS (according to CosIng)
- 7440-22-4
- EC (according to CosIng)
- 231-131-3
- Declared functions
- Colorant, Deodorant, Skin conditioning: miscellaneous
The CAS number cited by CosIng also covers 2 other INCI names: it designates a family of substances, not this ingredient alone.
Classified hazard (CLP Regulation)
A classification describes an intrinsic hazard, not a risk: the risk depends on the dose, the form and the exposure.
silver massive: [particle diameter ≥ 1 mm]
CMR Repr. 2
- Hazard classes
- Repr. 2
STOT RE 2 - Hazard statements
- H361f H373 (nervous system)
The CMR classification covers only a specific form or grade of the substance (particle size or impurity content stated in the entry's title); another CLP entry covers its other forms.
silver powder: [particle diameter > 100 nm < 1 mm]
CMR Repr. 2
- Hazard classes
- Repr. 2
STOT RE 2
Aquatic Acute 1
Aquatic Chronic 1 - Hazard statements
- H361f H373 (nervous system) H400 H410
The CMR classification covers only a specific form or grade of the substance (particle size or impurity content stated in the entry's title); another CLP entry covers its other forms.
EU product alerts (Safety Gate)
2 alerts on cosmetic products cite this name in their hazard description. An alert targets a specific product, not the ingredient itself; each alert states the reason (prohibited substance, limit exceeded, missing labelling, and so on).
Elsewhere in the world
Information on other jurisdictions. What is covered, and what is not yet.
United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Colorant allowed under conditions (Annex IV)
Entry 1727 of Annex II of EU law (Regulation (EU) 2026/78) has no equivalent in British law.
Entry 379 of Annex III of EU law (Regulation (EU) 2026/78) has no equivalent in British law.
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
- Allowed colorant: 실버 (Silver) CI 77820 (Silver)
색소 고시 별표 1 (allowed colorants), entry 88, page 4.
Recorded cosmetics that contain it
2 recorded products list it, according to Open Beauty Facts contributors. Records are dated: the formula may have changed. See the list (page in French).
Glossary: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175. Page updated on 21 October 2026.