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Beauty ingredient · Preservative

Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate

CAS
70161-44-3

A formaldehyde-releasing preservative.

  • Formaldehyde releaser
  • Preservative
  • 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 sodium hydroxymethylglycinate 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]

  • Contact allergenStrong evidence

    A recognized cause of allergic contact dermatitis through formaldehyde release. [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 Restricted Allowed up to 0.5% (Annex V, entry 51); prohibited where releasable formaldehyde reaches 0.1% (Annex II, entry 1669). — [3]
Washington State (US) Banned Washington bans formaldehyde releasers designated by the Department of Ecology in cosmetics (RCW 70A.560). — [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“Banned” means explicitly prohibited or withdrawn after review; “not permitted” means never authorized there.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 (2)
  • sodium hydroxymethylglycinate
  • sodium hydroxymethylamino acetate

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) 2021/1902 of 29 October 2021 amending Annexes II, III and V to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as regards the use in cosmetic products of certain substances classified as CMR

    European Union (Official Journal) · Oct 29, 2021 · Law

    “This Regulation covers the substances classified as CMR substances by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1182 (3), which will apply from 1 March 2022.”

    eur-lex.europa.eu