Moderate Cosmetic Ingredient GHS Classified

Benzethonium Chloride

INCI: BENZETHONIUM CHLORIDE

CAS Number
121-54-0
Function
Antimicrobial Preservative, Cosmetic Biocide, Deodorant Agent, Surfactant
Safety Rating
MODERATE

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status restricted
EU Max Conc. 0.1%
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted
US Notes Permitted as cosmetic preservative. Not GRAS for OTC antiseptic use (deferred by FDA 2016).

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

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
moderate
Sensitization
low

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

GHS Hazard Classification

Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.

Signal Word
DANGER
Pictograms
excl mark;warn; corr
Hazard Statements
Harmful if swallowed Causes skin irritation Causes serious eye damage Toxic to aquatic life
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is corrosive to the eyes. The substance is irritating to the skin.
Long-term Exposure Effects
Repeated or prolonged contact with skin may cause dermatitis.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body through the skin and by ingestion.

Expert Verdict

Effective broad-spectrum cationic preservative with EU Annex V listing at maximum 0.1%. Margin of safety of 257 is adequate but lower than most ingredients. Excluded from oral care products in EU.

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Concern Level: Moderate

Regulatory Flags

Restricted eu_cosing_listed

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Benzethonium Chloride safe in cosmetics?

Effective broad-spectrum cationic preservative with EU Annex V listing at maximum 0.1%. Margin of safety of 257 is adequate but lower than most ingredients. Excluded from oral care products in EU. The EU classifies Benzethonium Chloride as "restricted". Safety rating: MODERATE.

Is Benzethonium Chloride allowed in the EU?

Benzethonium Chloride EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: 0.1%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Benzethonium Chloride do in cosmetics?

Benzethonium Chloride functions as: Antimicrobial Preservative, Cosmetic Biocide, Deodorant Agent, Surfactant. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 121-54-0.

What is the Margin of Safety for Benzethonium Chloride?

adequate 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 Benzethonium Chloride classified as hazardous under GHS?

Benzethonium Chloride carries a GHS signal word of "DANGER". Hazard statements: Harmful if swallowed Causes skin irritation Causes serious eye damage Toxic to aquatic life. This classification is based on the ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Card and ECHA C&L inventory data. Note: GHS classification applies to the pure substance โ€” at cosmetic use concentrations, hazard thresholds may not be met.

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