Are aluminium salts in deodorants prohibited?
Direct answer
Permitted under conditions No general prohibition applies to aluminium salts in deodorants. The regulation of 27 April 2026 adds entry III/381: 7.73% as aluminium for non-aerosol antiperspirants or deodorants and 3.24% for aerosols, with deadlines in 2027 and 2028. [1] [2]
Regulatory status
III/381 does not replace III/50 for aluminium-zirconium complexes. It also excludes III/34, 189, 190, 192; IV/117, 118, 119, 121, 131, 150; V/61 and VI/27a. Exclusion from the new limit does not mean absence of rules. [1] [3]
Scientific opinion The final opinion of 27 March 2024 assesses uses by category and aerosols subject to particle-size conditions. It notes that aggregate food and cosmetic exposure may exceed reference levels at the highest exposures; nanoforms are excluded. [4]
Authority concern, specified context In the opinion of 27 March 2024, the SCCSEU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety: it assesses cosmetic ingredients. notes that aggregate exposure from cosmetics and food may exceed reference levels at the highest exposure levels. This finding does not describe the dose from a particular product. [4]
Restrictions and conditions of use
For III/381, non-compliant products may no longer be placed on the market from 1 January 2027 or made available from 1 July 2028. [1]
Annex III, No 50 : Aluminium-zirconium complexes in antiperspirants: 20% as anhydrous chloride hydroxide and 5.4% as zirconium; Al/Zr ratio 2 to 10 and (Al+Zr)/Cl ratio 0.9 to 2.1. No aerosol dispensers. Do not apply to irritated or damaged skin. [3]
Annex III, No 381 : All limits are expressed as Al: (a) non-aerosol antiperspirants or deodorants 7.73%; (b) aerosols 3.24%; (c) toothpaste 3.18%; (d) lips 14.62%; (e) body and face rinse-off 0.89%; (f) bar soap 4%; (g) hair rinse-off 7.14%; (h) hair leave-on that may expose lungs by inhalation 0.15%; (i) other hair leave-on 6.7%; (j) make-up except lips, eye liner, eye shadow, nail varnish and mascara 23%; (k) eye liner 15.76%; (l) eye shadow 43.31%; (m) nail varnish 3.61%; (n) mascara 3.13%; (o) face leave-on except make-up, eye liner, eye shadow and mascara 10.59%; (p) hand leave-on 0.86%; (q) other skin leave-on except antiperspirants or deodorants, face, hands and talcum powder 3.81%; (r) talcum powder 2.0%. For (q), no sunscreen products that may expose lungs by inhalation. For (r), keep powder away from children’s nose and mouth. [1] [2]
Dated primary sources
[1] Règlement (UE) 2026/909. Text : 2026-04-27. Consulted : 2026-10-31. Annexe, point 2 b), aluminium, pages 11 et 12, et note (**) page 17. Texte officiel téléchargé confronté à sa représentation officielle indexée..
The regulation adds limits expressed as aluminium for eighteen categories. It expressly excludes certain entries already regulated and distinguishes placing on the market from making available.
Aluminium-containing ingredients with the exception of those listed in entries 34, 50, 189, 190 and 192 of Annex III, in entries 117, 118, 119, 121, 131, 150 of Annex IV, in entry 61 in Annex V, and entry 27a of Annex VI. (**) (a) Non-aerosol antiperspirants or deodorants (a) 7,73 % (as Al) For (q): Not to be used in sunscreen products that may lead to exposure of the end user’s lungs by inhalation. For (r): Keep powder away from children’s nose and mouth (b) Aerosol antiperspirants or deodorants (b) 3,24 % (as Al) (c) Toothpaste (c) 3,18 % (as Al) (d) Lip products (d) 14,62 % (as Al) (e) Body and face rinse-off products (e) 0,89 % (as Al) (f) Bar soap (f) 4 % (As AI) (g) Hair rinse-off products (g) 7,14 % (as Al) (h) Hair leave-on products that may lead to the exposure of the end user’s lungs by inhalation (h) 0,15 % (as Al) (i) All other hair leave-on products (i) 6,7 % (as Al) (j) Make-up products (except lip products, eye liner products, eye shadow, nail varnish and mascara) (j) 23 % (as Al) (k) Eye liner products (k) 15,76 % (as Al) (l) Eye shadow (l) 43,31 % (as Al) (m) Nail varnish (m) 3,61 % (as Al) (n) Mascara (n) 3,13 % (As Al) (o) Face leave-on products (except make-up products, eye liner products, eye shadow and mascara) (o) 10,59 % (as Al) (p) Hand leave-on products (p) 0,86 % (as Al) (q) Other leave-on skin products (except non-aerosol antiperspirants or deodorants, aerosol antiperspirants or deodorants, face leave-on products, hand leave-on products and talcum powder) (q) 3,81 % (as Al) (r) Talcum powder (r) 2,0 % (as Al)
(**) From 1 January 2027 cosmetic products containing these substances and not complying with the restrictions shall not be placed on the Union market. From 1 July 2028 cosmetic products containing these substances and not complying with the restrictions shall not be made available on the Union market.’ ‘[2] Rectificatif au règlement 2026/909. Text : 2026-05-05. Consulted : 2026-10-31. Premier point du rectificatif..
The corrigendum renumbers the aluminium entry as 381.
On page 11, in Annex, point (2)(b), first column of the table (Reference number):
for: ‘379’,
read: ‘381’.[3] Règlement 1223/2009, annexe III/50. Text : 2009-11-30. Consulted : 2026-10-31. Annexe III/50 ; cellules distinctes, JO anglais page 149..
Aluminium-zirconium complexes have their own limits and conditions in III/50.
Aluminium zirconium chloride hydroxide complexes
Anti-perspirants
20 % (as anhydrous aluminium zirconium chloride hydroxide)
5,4 % (as zirconium)
1. The ratio of the number of aluminium atoms to that of zirconium atoms must be between 2 and 10
2. The ratio of the number of (Al + Zr) atoms to that of chlorine atoms must be between 0,9 and 2,1
3. Not to be used in aerosol dispensers (sprays)
Do not apply to irritated or damaged skin[4] CSSC, SCCS/1662/23, version finale. Text : 2024-03-27. Consulted : 2026-10-31. Résumé et conclusion, pages 4 et 29 ; exclusion citée mot pour mot. Extraits distincts de la même source..
The final opinion of 27 March 2024 assesses uses by category and aerosols subject to particle-size conditions. It notes that aggregate food and cosmetic exposure may exceed reference levels at the highest exposures; nanoforms are excluded.
aggregated exposure from cosmetics and food may exceed safe limits
does not apply to nano forms of aluminiumLimits of the data
Percentage as aluminium is not percentage of the salt. Earlier SCCS figures do not replace the limits in Regulation 2026/909. This page measures no individual exposure and draws no conclusion on nanoforms. [1] [4]
Last verification
2026-10-31