TOLUENE
Official label name (INCIInternational name of cosmetic ingredients: the one printed on the pack. name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 28955
- Allowed with restrictions (Annex III)
TOLUENE: Allowed with restrictions, maximum 25% in the ready-for-use preparation, only in: Nail products (Annex III, entry 185), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Good to know: classified toxic for reproduction (category 2). Annexes of the Regulation consulted on 21 October 2026.
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
Worth watchingThe text sets a condition or flags a hazard worth knowing: allergen, suspected effect, condition for children, hazard to the aquatic environment.
Worth watching Classified under the CLPEU regulation that classifies chemicals by their hazards (EC No 1272/2008). Regulation: reproductive toxicity, category 2 (Repr. 2), a hazard to the unborn child. The European Union nevertheless allows it under the conditions of its annex, after an opinion of its Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCSEU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety: it assesses cosmetic ingredients.).
For a question about your own situation, ask your doctor, midwife or pharmacist.
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: 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 it is not on ECHAEuropean Chemicals Agency.'s Candidate List as an endocrine disruptor for the environment.
Read on the label
For informationOfficial information with no condition on a finished product: warning to read, irritation of the pure substance.
For information Annex III, entry 185, requires this to be printed on the pack: “Keep out of reach of children. To be used by adults only”.
Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), consolidated version, Annex VI table 3, retrieved 21 October 2026.
CosIng, Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (restricted substances), retrieved 21 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
In plain words
What it is used for
Functions declared by manufacturers:
Antioxidant: inhibits reactions promoted by oxygen, thus avoiding oxidation and rancidity.
Solvent: dissolves other substances.
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.
Definitions of functions (decision repealed on 8 May 2020, cited for information). Decision 2006/257/EC, inventory of cosmetic ingredients (definitions of functions), retrieved 22 October 2026.
What the rules say
Allowed, with restrictions: Annex III sets a maximum concentration, the product types allowed and a warning to be printed on the packaging. Ingredient lists do not give quantities, so the concentration cannot be checked on the label; the warning can.
CosIng, Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (restricted substances), retrieved 21 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
Hazard and risk
The CLP Regulation classifies this substance as 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).
Classified as a category 2 CMRCarcinogenic, mutagenic (damages DNA) or toxic for reproduction. and allowed under the conditions of Annex III, after an SCCS assessment.
Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), consolidated version, Annex VI table 3, retrieved 21 October 2026.
The text of the annexes
Allowed with restrictions
- Product type
- Nail products
- Maximum concentration
- 25%
- Warning to print
- Keep out of reach of children. To be used by adults only
- Entry
- Annex III, No 185
- Substance
- Toluene
- Glossary names
- TOLUENE
- CAS
- 108-88-3
- EC
- 203-625-9
Dates in the act (2)
- Entry into force on 15 May 2013
- Application from 11 July 2013
It shall apply from 11 July 2013.
Excerpts from the English text published in the Official Journal. A date may concern only some substances of the act: the excerpt says so.
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex III, entry 185. CosIng, Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (restricted substances), retrieved 21 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
Entry from Regulation (EU) n° 344/2013, adopted on 4 April 2013.
SCCS opinions cited: Opinion on Toluene (its use as a solvent in nail cosmetics); Opinion on Toluene (its use as a solvent in nail cosmetics).
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.
Annex III, entry 185: introduced or replaced by Regulation (EU) n° 344/2013
Annex III, entry 185: applies from this date
CLP classification “Repr. 2” applicable at the latest from this date (Regulation (EU) 2018/669)
Identity
- CosIng identifier
- 80281
- CAS (according to CosIng)
- 108-88-3
- EC (according to CosIng)
- 203-625-9
- Declared functions
- Antioxidant, Solvent
- Wikidata
- Q15779
- PubChem
- 1140
- ECHA InfoCard
- 100.003.297
- InChIKey
- YXFVVABEGXRONW-UHFFFAOYSA-N
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 ECHA 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.
toluene
Reproductive toxicity, category 2 (Repr. 2)
- Hazard classes
- Flammable liquid, category 2 (Flam. Liq. 2)
Reproductive toxicity, category 2 (Repr. 2)
Aspiration hazard, category 1 (Asp. Tox. 1)
Specific target organ toxicity, repeated exposure, category 2 (STOT RE 2)
Skin irritation, category 2 (Skin Irrit. 2)
Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure, category 3 (STOT SE 3) - Hazard statements
- H225 H361d *** H304 H373 ** H315 H336
Annex VI, entry 601-021-00-3, linked by CAS 108-88-3. 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.
EU product alerts (Safety Gate)
3 alerts on cosmetic products cite this name in their hazard description. An alert targets a specific product, not the ingredient itself. Under each alert, its reason (prohibited substance, limit exceeded, missing labelling, and so on), as published.
- 8 July 2022: Hair dye, Royal, Germany (“Serious risk”) alert
The product contains Toluene-2,5-Diamine, 5-Amino-o-cresol, p-aminophenol and p-phenylenediamine (PPD)(measured values: 0.2%, 0.8%, 4.1% and 2.7%, respectively) with an insufficient coupling agent. Toluene-2,5-Diamine, 5-Amino-o-cresol,, and uncoupled… - 2 November 2018: Hair dye, Bigen Hoyu, Germany (“Serious risk”) alert
The product contains too much p-phenylenediamine and toluene-2,5-diamine sulphate (measured values: up to 4.9% and 4.2% by weight respectively) and an insufficient coupling agent. Uncoupled p-phenylenediamine and and toluene-2,5-diamine sulphate are extremely… - 14 April 2017: Hair colouring product, Gold, Germany (“Serious risk”) alert
null According to the labels, the products contain ingredients, assumed to be Toluene-2,5-diamine, 4-Amino-m-cresol and 1,4-Phenylenediamine (PPD). The substances are only permitted in oxidative hair colouring products with coupler substances and can cause…
Safety Gate, EU rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products: cosmetic alerts from the weekly reports, retrieved 22 October 2026.
Source: European Commission, Safety GateEU rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products. weekly reports (CC0).
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 | Allowed with restrictions | 25% |
| United Kingdom | Allowed with restrictions | 25% |
| Switzerland | EU Regulation applies | 25% |
| United States (federal) | No federal rule recorded | not cited |
| Japan | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| South Korea | Restricted | 25% |
| 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 |
| Brazil | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Allowed with restrictions (Annex III)
Same entries as in the European Union. Their maximum concentrations are compared in the “Comparison between countries” table; other conditions (product types, warnings) may differ.
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: 톨루엔 (TOLUENE)
별표 2, 기타 (other substances with limits), entry 70, page 42. Limit: 손발톱용 제품류에 25%.
Conditions, source text, in Korean
비고: 기타 제품에는 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.
Recorded cosmetics that contain it
1 recorded product list it, according to Open Beauty Facts contributors. Records are dated: the formula may have changed. See the list (in French).
Open Beauty Facts, export of cosmetic products, retrieved 21 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.
Glossary: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175. Page updated on 21 October 2026.