Ingredient source facts

Salicylic acid and its salts: EU cosmetic annex conditions and formula evidence

Salicylic acid and its salts has identifier matches to Annex III, Annex V in the acquired 18 May 2026 EU Cosmetics Regulation text. The table distinguishes the substance identity, product-use conditions and recorded limits. Confirm the exact substance/group scope, formula concentration and intended use before applying an entry. This does not certify formula safety or settle Great Britain requirements. The informative CosIng metadata and legal-table references differ; this page does not treat them as interchangeable.

Evidence retrieved 2026-10-06. Source versions and topic-specific limits are listed below.

Exact legal-entry matches and product-use conditions

Exact checksum-valid CAS and/or exact EC identifier in preserved legal identity cells. Group and substance scope are still conditional.

Each line below retains its own concentration basis, conditions and warnings. Blank source cells mean no condition was recorded in that cell; they do not establish unrestricted use.

Annex III · Entry 98

Recorded identity: Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy- ( 9 )

Matching CAS: 69-72-7 · Matching EC: 200-712-3

Product use / body siteMaximum concentration and basisOther conditionsWarningsSource
(a) Rinse-off hair products (b) Other products except body lotion, eye shadow, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, roll-on deodorant (c) Body lotion, eye shadow, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, roll-on deodorant(a) 3,0 % (b) 2,0 % (c) 0,5 %(a) (b) (c) Not to be used in preparations for children under 3 years of age. Not to be used in applications that may lead to exposure of the end-user’s lungs by inhalation. Not to be used in oral products. For purposes other than inhibiting the development of micro-organisms in the product. This purpose has to be apparent from the presentation of the product. These levels are inclusive of any use of salicylic acid.(a) (b) (c) Not to be used for children under 3 years of age ( 10 )[2]

Linked notes for this entry

  • ( 9 ) For use as a preservative see Annex V, No 3. [3]
  • ( 10 ) Solely for products which might be used for children under 3 years of age. [4]

Annex V · Entry 3

Recorded identity: Salicylic acid ( 1 ) and its salts

Matching CAS: 69-72-7 · Matching EC: 200-712-3

Product use / body siteMaximum concentration and basisOther conditionsWarningsSource
Blank in source0,5 % (acid)Not to be used in products for children under 3 years of age.Not to be used for children under 3 years of age ( 12 )[5]
Blank in source0,5 % (acid)Not to be used in oral products.Not to be used for children under 3 years of age ( 12 )[5] [8]
Blank in source0,5 % (acid)Not to be used in applications that may lead to exposure of the end-user’s lungs by inhalation.Not to be used for children under 3 years of age ( 12 )[5] [9]

Linked notes for this entry

  • ( 1 ) For uses other than preservative, see Annex III, No 98. [6]
  • ( 12 ) Solely for products which might be used for children under 3 years of age. [7]

Annex V · Entry 3

Recorded identity: Salicylic acid ( 1 ) and its salts

Matching CAS: 18917-89-0, 2174-16-5, 54-21-7, 578-36-9, 824-35-1 · Matching EC: 200-198-0, 209-421-6, 212-525-4, 218-531-3, 242-669-3, 261-963-2

Product use / body siteMaximum concentration and basisOther conditionsWarningsSource
Blank in source0,5 % (acid)Not to be used in products for children under 3 years of age, except for shampoos.Not to be used for children under 3 years of age ( 2 )[5] [10]

Linked notes for this entry

  • ( 1 ) For uses other than preservative, see Annex III, No 98. [6]
  • ( 2 ) Solely for products which might be used for children under 3 years of age and which remain in prolonged contact with the skin. [11]

The consolidated text is a dated reference. Current amendments, corrigenda and applicability dates must be checked. EU evidence does not resolve Great Britain rules.

Known facts and deciding inputs

Known context: EU. Ingredient identity is recorded; concentration, intended use, exposure and current legal conditions still need checking.

Source factRecorded valueWhat to check
INCI / recorded nameSalicylic acid and its salts [1]Check identity, concentration, exposure and use against the current legal annex and any amendments.
Common ingredients glossary nameSALICYLIC ACID, CALCIUM SALICYLATE, MAGNESIUM SALICYLATE, MEA- SALICYLATE, SODIUM SALICYLATE, POTASSIUM SALICYLATE, TEA- SALICYLATE [1]Check identity, concentration, exposure and use against the current legal annex and any amendments.
CAS identifiers69-72-7[1]/ 824-35-1[2]/ 18917-89-0[3]/ 59866-70-5[4]/ 54-21-7[5]/ 578-36-9[6]/ 2174-16-5[7] [1]Check identity, concentration, exposure and use against the current legal annex and any amendments.
EC identifiers200-712-3[1]/ 212-525-4[2]/ 242-669-3[3]/ 261-963-2[4]/ 200-198-0[5]/ 209-421-6[6]/ 218-531-3[7] [1]Check identity, concentration, exposure and use against the current legal annex and any amendments.
Chemical nameSalicylic acid and its salts [1]Check identity, concentration, exposure and use against the current legal annex and any amendments.
CosIng annex referenceV [1]Check identity, concentration, exposure and use against the current legal annex and any amendments.
CosIng reference entry3 [1]Check identity, concentration, exposure and use against the current legal annex and any amendments.
maximumConcentrationSalicylic acid: 0,5 % (acid) Salicylic acid salts: 0,5 % (acid) [1]Check identity, concentration, exposure and use against the current legal annex and any amendments.
wordingOfConditionsSalicylic acid: Not to be used for children under 3 years of age** **Solely for products which might be used for children under 3 years of age. Salicylic acid salts: Not to be used for children under 3 years of age*** ***Solely for products which might be used for children under 3 years of age and which remain in prolonged contact with the skin. [1]Check identity, concentration, exposure and use against the current legal annex and any amendments.
otherSalicylic acid: Not to be used in products for children under 3 years of age. Not to be used in oral products. Not to be used in applications that may lead to exposure of the end-user’s lungs by inhalation. Salicylic acid salts: Not to be used in products for children under 3 years of age, except for shampoos. [1]Check identity, concentration, exposure and use against the current legal annex and any amendments.
SCCS opinion referenceOpinion concerning Restrictions on Materials listed in annex VI of Directive 76/768/EEC on Cosmetic Products, Position paper on the Safety of alpha-Hydroxy Acids, Updated position paper concerning consumer Safety of alpha-hydroxy acids, OPINION ON salicylic acid (CAS 69-72-7) Submission I [1]Check identity, concentration, exposure and use against the current legal annex and any amendments.
Related regulation reference(EU) 2019/1966 [1]Check identity, concentration, exposure and use against the current legal annex and any amendments.
Recorded publication date2019-12-13T00:00:00.000+0100 [1]Check identity, concentration, exposure and use against the current legal annex and any amendments.

Resolve the entry against your actual formula

Use this checklist to gather your business or product details before speaking with a specialist. The items below explain what to record and suggest useful supporting documents. You can add your own answers in the editable project brief.

  1. Does the supplied material fall within these exact entries?

    Put your supplier CAS/EC, substance composition, salt/group membership, purity, physical form and intended function beside each matched entry. A matching identifier does not resolve every group or impurity condition.

    Useful evidence: Supplier specification, composition and certificates of analysis; the exact annex rows above.

  2. Which row governs the finished-product use?

    Compare the finished-product concentration, body site, rinse-off/leave-on use, consumer/professional setting and any exposure restrictions with each row. Preserve the units and calculation basis; do not transfer a limit from a different product-use row.

    Useful evidence: Quantitative formula and use instructions; a row-by-row condition and warning worksheet.

  3. Is a prohibition or trace question involved?

    For Annex II matches, review Article 14 before formulation decisions. Article 17 concerns a separate, conditional non-intended trace situation; it does not grant blanket permission to intentionally add a prohibited substance. Record origin and technical-avoidability evidence for specialist review.

    Useful evidence: Ingredient/impurity origin, manufacturing controls, trace quantities and the cited Article 17 text.

  4. What must reach the safety assessor and Responsible Person?

    Send the reconciled identity, condition table, exposure facts, supplier evidence and unresolved amendment/date questions. Agree formula, assessment and PIF responsibilities before notification or manufacturing handoff.

    Useful evidence: A dated formula-evidence matrix, supplier data, exposure description and document ownership list.

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Sources and data dates

Read the official document in context. The audit details identify the precise locators and preserved versions used for this page.

EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2009/1223 ↗

Consolidated text dated 2026-05-18 · retrieved 2026-10-06

Audit details: precise locators and snapshot identifiers

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