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Household ingredient · Preservative

Isothiazolinone preservatives (household)

Preservatives in liquid detergents and cleaners. Methylisothiazolinone is a well-known contact allergen; the EU bans it in leave-on cosmetics.

  • Isothiazolinone preservative
  • Preservative
  • Expert review pending
Moderate concern Level 2 of 4 How concern levels work

Strong evidence of harm at high intake, emerging evidence of harm, or a common allergen or irritant. The concern level sets how many points isothiazolinone preservatives (household) costs on a product’s receipt.

What the evidence says

  • Contact allergenRegulatory

    The EU prohibited methylisothiazolinone in leave-on cosmetics because of contact allergy. [1]

Evidence tiers say how sure the evidence is, separately from how much it matters. About evidence tiers.

Rules around the world

WhereStatusDetailsDateSource
European Union Permitted Detergents must list preservation agents whatever their concentration (Annex VII A). — [2]

“Banned” means explicitly prohibited or withdrawn after review; “not permitted” means never authorized there. We use each regulator’s own words.

Names GoodSwap recognizes on labels (22)
  • bit
  • mit
  • cmit
  • kathon
  • cmit mit
  • isothiazolinone
  • isothiazolinones
  • benzisothiazolinone
  • octylisothiazolinone
  • methylisothiazolinone
  • methyl isothiazolinone
  • benzisothiazolinone bit
  • butylbenzisothiazolinone
  • 1 2 benzisothiazolin 3 one
  • 2 octyl 2h isothiazol 3 one
  • methylchloroisothiazolinone
  • dichlorooctylisothiazolinone
  • 2 methyl 4 isothiazolin 3 one
  • 5 chloro 2 methyl 4 isothiazolin 3 one
  • isothiazolinone preservatives household
  • methylchloroisothiazolinone methylisothiazolinone
  • methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone

Sources

  1. Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1198 of 22 July 2016 amending Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (Methylisothiazolinone in leave-on products)

    European Union (Official Journal) · Jul 22, 2016 · Law

    “this substance should therefore be banned in leave-on products.”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  2. Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on detergents

    European Union (Official Journal) · Mar 31, 2004 · Law

    “The following classes of constituent, if added, shall be listed irrespective of their concentration: - enzymes, - disinfectants, - optical brighteners, - perfumes.”

    eur-lex.europa.eu