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Beauty ingredient · Preservative

Quaternium-15

CAS
4080-31-3

A formaldehyde-releasing preservative prohibited in EU cosmetics since 2019 and in California since 2025.

  • Formaldehyde releaser
  • Preservative
  • Quaternary ammonium compound
  • Expert review pending
High concern Level 3 of 4 How concern levels work

A regulatory warning or restriction somewhere, or strong evidence of harm at typical intake. The concern level sets how many points Quaternium-15 costs on a product’s receipt.

What the evidence says

  • Releases formaldehydeRegulatory

    Releases formaldehyde; in the EU products must state "releases formaldehyde" when total released formaldehyde exceeds 0.001% (10 ppm). Washington bans releasers designated by its Department of Ecology. [1][2]

  • Not permitted in cosmetics somewhereRegulatory

    Moved to the EU prohibited list in 2019 because its cis-isomer is classified as a CMR substance (category 2) and its safety could not be established. [3]

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

Rules around the world

WhereStatusDetailsDateSource
European Union Banned Prohibited in cosmetic products (Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009). Jun 12, 2019 [3]
California (US) Banned Not allowed in cosmetics from January 1, 2025 (AB 2762). Jan 1, 2025 [4]

“Banned” means explicitly prohibited or withdrawn after review; “not permitted” means never authorized there.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 (4)
  • dowicil 200
  • quaternium 15
  • methenamine 3 chloroallylochloride
  • cis 1 3 chloroallyl 3 5 7 triaza 1 azoniaadamantane chloride

Sources

  1. Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/1181 of 8 July 2022 amending the preamble of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (formaldehyde releasers)

    European Union (Official Journal) · Jul 8, 2022 · Law

    “shall be labelled with the warning “releases formaldehyde” where the total concentration of formaldehyde released in the finished product exceeds 0,001 % (10 ppm)”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  2. Revised Code of Washington, Chapter 70A.560 (Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act)

    Washington State Legislature · Law

    “(a) Ortho-phthalates; (b) Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances; (c) Formaldehyde (CAS 50-00-0) and chemicals determined by the department to release formaldehyde;”

    app.leg.wa.gov

  3. Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/831 of 22 May 2019 amending Annexes II, III and V to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009

    European Union (Official Journal) · May 22, 2019 · Law

    “Formaldehyde should also be added to the list of substances prohibited in cosmetic products in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  4. California AB 2762 (2020), Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act (Health and Safety Code §108980)

    California Legislative Information · Sep 30, 2020 · Law

    “Commencing January 1, 2025, no person or entity shall manufacture, sell, deliver, hold, or offer for sale, in commerce any cosmetic product that contains any of the following intentionally added ingredients”

    leginfo.legislature.ca.gov