Compoatlas

THIOUREA

Official label name (INCI name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 28771

THIOUREA: Prohibited, with exceptions (Annex II, entry 321), 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.

Humectant: holds and retains moisture.

What the rules say

Prohibited, with the exceptions set out in the official title: "Thiourea and its derivatives, with the exception of the one listed in Annex III".

Hazard and risk

The CLP Regulation classifies this substance as carcinogenic, category 2 (suspected effect, without enough evidence for a higher category) and toxic for reproduction, category 2 (suspected effect, without enough evidence for a higher category).

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).

A category 2 CMR is allowed in cosmetics only after a favourable SCCS assessment (Article 15). The classification may cover only one form or route of exposure: read the entry.

The text of the annexes

Prohibited, with exceptions

CosIng links the name THIOUREA to this entry. The cases of prohibition are explained above, in “In plain words”; the official title is given below.

Entry
Annex II, No 321
Substance
Thiourea and its derivatives, with the exception of the one listed in Annex III
CAS
62-56-6
EC
200-543-5
CMR
Carcinogenic Cat. 2(),Reprotoxic Cat. 2()
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
88079
CAS (according to CosIng)
62-56-6
EC (according to CosIng)
200-543-5
Declared functions
Antimicrobial, Humectant

Classified hazard (CLP Regulation)

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

thiourea; thiocarbamide

CMR Carc. 2 ; Repr. 2

Hazard classes
Carc. 2
Repr. 2
Acute Tox. 4 *
Aquatic Chronic 2
Hazard statements
H351 H361d *** H302 H411

A category 2 CMR is allowed in cosmetics only after a favourable SCCS assessment (Article 15). The classification may cover only one form or route of exposure: read the entry.

Elsewhere in the world

Information on other jurisdictions. What is covered, and what is not yet.

United Kingdom (Great Britain)

  • Prohibited, with exceptions (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: 치오우레아 및 그 유도체 (THIOUREA)

    별표 1 (prohibited substances), entry 686, page 36.

China

  • Prohibited: 硫脲及其衍生物（化妆品限用组分中限用的除外） (Thiourea （CAS No. 62-56-6） and its derivatives, with the exception of the one listed in restricted substances in cosmetics products)

    表1 化妆品禁用原料目录 (prohibited substances, 2021年第74号), entry 1207, page 附件2 (.doc) table row 1207 ; TID reprint p.46.

Brazil

  • Prohibited: Tiouréia e seus derivados, com exceção dos mencionados em outras listas de substâncias

    RDC 529/2021, Anexo (prohibited substances), entry 321, page 12. Conditions (source text, in Portuguese): N° UE: 321

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