Basic Red 46

INCI: BASIC RED 46

CAS Number
12221-69-1 (also 89959-98-8)
Function
Hair dyeing (cationic direct dye)
Safety Rating
POOR

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status prohibited
🇺🇸 US Status restricted
US Notes Not an FDA-approved color additive (21 CFR 73/74/82); coal tar hair dye exemption under FD&C Act §601(a) may theoretically apply but substance is effectively unsuitable due to EU ban precedent

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
not established
Dermal Absorption
low
Sensitization
low

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Azo dye with potential aromatic amine release upon reductive cleavage; prohibited in EU cosmetics; two CAS variants exist—verify identity when sourcing.

⚠️
Concern Level: High

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Basic Red 46 safe in cosmetics?

Azo dye with potential aromatic amine release upon reductive cleavage; prohibited in EU cosmetics; two CAS variants exist—verify identity when sourcing. The EU classifies Basic Red 46 as "prohibited". Safety rating: POOR.

Is Basic Red 46 allowed in the EU?

Basic Red 46 EU regulatory status: prohibited. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Basic Red 46 do in cosmetics?

Basic Red 46 functions as: Hair dyeing (cationic direct dye). It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 12221-69-1 (also 89959-98-8).

What is the Margin of Safety for Basic Red 46?

not established The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

📱

Is Basic Red 46 in Your Products?

Scan any product label with Piro — our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.

Try Piro Free →

Analyze Your Full Ingredient List

Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for Basic Red 46 in your formulation.