Good Cosmetic Ingredient

CI 20040 (Pigment Yellow 16)

INCI: CI 20040

CAS Number
5979-28-2
Function
Colorant. Synthetic bis-azo yellow pigment (N,N'-(3,3'-Dimethyl[1,1'-biphenyl]-4,4'-diyl)bis[2-[(2,4-dichlorophenyl)azo]-3-oxobutyramide]), also known as Pigment Yellow 16 and Permanent Yellow NCG. Imparts yellow coloration to cosmetic products. Insoluble pigment used as surface colorant in rinse-off cosmetics only. Organic azo pigment containing a dichlorobiphenyl core. Not an oxidative hair dye.
Safety Rating
GOOD

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status restricted
EU Max Conc. Annex IV listed; permitted as colorant exclusively in rinse-off cosmetics; no maximum concentration specified
🇺🇸 US Status prohibited
US Notes Not listed as an FDA-certified or exempt color additive for cosmetics under 21 CFR. Pigment Yellow 16 does not appear on the FDA Color Additives Permitted for Use in Cosmetics list. Use in US cosmetics is not explicitly authorized; formulators should verify status prior to marketing.

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

Safety Data

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

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Annex IV-listed rinse-off colorant with a favorable safety profile at permitted uses. EU permission is limited to rinse-off applications only. Not established on the FDA color additives list for US cosmetics, requiring regulatory clarification for US market applicability. The insoluble pigment format limits systemic exposure.

⚠️
Concern Level: Low

Regulatory Flags

synthetic-colorant azo-dye pigment eu-annex-iv rinse-off-only not-fda-listed insoluble-pigment biphenyl-core eu_cosing_listed

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CI 20040 (Pigment Yellow 16) safe in cosmetics?

Annex IV-listed rinse-off colorant with a favorable safety profile at permitted uses. EU permission is limited to rinse-off applications only. Not established on the FDA color additives list for US cosmetics, requiring regulatory clarification for US market applicability. The insoluble pigment format limits systemic exposure. The EU classifies CI 20040 (Pigment Yellow 16) as "restricted". Safety rating: GOOD.

Is CI 20040 (Pigment Yellow 16) allowed in the EU?

CI 20040 (Pigment Yellow 16) EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: Annex IV listed; permitted as colorant exclusively in rinse-off cosmetics; no maximum concentration specified. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does CI 20040 (Pigment Yellow 16) do in cosmetics?

CI 20040 (Pigment Yellow 16) functions as: Colorant. Synthetic bis-azo yellow pigment (N,N'-(3,3'-Dimethyl[1,1'-biphenyl]-4,4'-diyl)bis[2-[(2,4-dichlorophenyl)azo]-3-oxobutyramide]), also known as Pigment Yellow 16 and Permanent Yellow NCG. Imparts yellow coloration to cosmetic products. Insoluble pigment used as surface colorant in rinse-off cosmetics only. Organic azo pigment containing a dichlorobiphenyl core. Not an oxidative hair dye.. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 5979-28-2.

What is the Margin of Safety for CI 20040 (Pigment Yellow 16)?

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.

Compliance Tools

Check CI 20040 (Pigment Yellow 16) compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
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Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
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Heavy Metal Limits
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