IngredientsEuropean Union
Climbazole in EU cosmetics: status and maximum concentration
INCI CLIMBAZOLE · CAS 38083-17-9
EU status: Restrictedpreservative or anti-dandruff
Data from Certo’s regulatory database as of
Some rows corrected against the legal texts on
The short answer
Climbazole is restricted in cosmetic products sold in the European Union (preservative or anti-dandruff). The binding limits are set in Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex V, entry 32; Annex III, entry 310.
EU legal requirements
| Product type or use | Limit | Conditions and label wording | Applies from |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU Cosmetics Regulation, Annex V 32 — As a preservative. Legal text | |||
| Hair lotions | ≤ 0.2 % | — | 27 November 2019 (placing on the market); 27 February 2020 (making available, including existing stock) |
| Face creams | ≤ 0.2 % | — | 27 November 2019 (placing on the market); 27 February 2020 (making available, including existing stock) |
| Foot care products | ≤ 0.2 % | — | 27 November 2019 (placing on the market); 27 February 2020 (making available, including existing stock) |
| Rinse-off shampoo | ≤ 0.5 % | — | 27 November 2019 (placing on the market); 27 February 2020 (making available, including existing stock) |
| Any other product | Not allowed | — | 27 November 2019 (placing on the market); 27 February 2020 (making available, including existing stock) |
| EU Cosmetics Regulation, Annex III 310 — Uses other than as a preservative. Legal text | |||
| Rinse-off anti-dandruff shampoo | ≤ 2 % | — | 27 November 2019 (placing on the market); 27 February 2020 (making available, including existing stock) |
| Any other product | Not allowed | — | 27 November 2019 (placing on the market); 27 February 2020 (making available, including existing stock) |
| Rinse-off anti-dandruff shampoo | — | The product's presentation must show that climbazole is used for a purpose other than as a preservative. | 27 November 2019 (placing on the market); 27 February 2020 (making available, including existing stock) |
Standards, advice and watch lists
| Product type or use | Limit | Conditions and label wording | Applies from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endocrine-disruptor lists (national authorities), ED List II Source | |||
| Endocrine Disruptor Lists, List II (latest update 2026/04), row 54: Climbazole | |||
What the texts say
32 | 1-(4-Chlorophenoxy)-1-(imidazol-1-yl)-3,3-dimethylbutan-2-one (20) | Climbazole | 38083-17-9 | 253-775-4 | (a) Hair lotions (21) (b) Face creams (21) (c) Foot care products (21) (d) Rinse-off shampoo (21) | (a) 0,2 % (21) (b) 0,2 % (21) (c) 0,2 % (21) (d) 0,5 % (21) (20) For use other than as a preservative, see Annex III, entry 310. (21) From 27 November 2019 cosmetic products containing 1-(4-Chlorophenoxy)-1-(imidazol-1-yl)-3,3-dimethylbutan-2-one and not complying with those conditions shall not be placed on the Union market. From 27 February 2020 cosmetic products containing 1-(4-Chlorophenoxy)-1-(imidazol-1-yl)-3,3-dimethylbutan-2-one and not complying with those conditions shall not be made available on the Union market.
310 | 1-(4-Chlorophenoxy)- 1-(imidazol-1-yl)-3,3- dimethylbutan-2-one (28) | Climbazole | 38083-17-9 | 253-775-4 | Rinse-off anti-dandruff shampoo (29) | 2,0 % (29) | For purposes other than inhibiting the development of micro-organisms in the product. This purpose has to be apparent from the presentation of the product. (29) (28) For use as a preservative, see Annex V, entry 32. (29) From 27 November 2019 cosmetic products containing 1-(4-Chlorophenoxy)-1-(imidazol-1-yl)-3,3-dimethylbutan-2-one and not complying with those restrictions shall not be placed on the Union market. From 27 February 2020 cosmetic products containing 1-(4-Chlorophenoxy)-1-(imidazol-1-yl)-3,3-dimethylbutan-2-one and not complying with those restrictions shall not be made available on the Union market.
Climbazole | 38083-17-9 | 253-775-4 | Yes | Classification proposed | 2026 | CLH | List II
On the horizon
- Watch: On the EU endocrine-disruptor List II since 2026, for environmental effects: a classification is proposed.
Sources
- Reg. (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex V, entry 32 and footnotes (20), (21) (as amended by Reg. (EU) 2019/698)
- Reg. (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex III, entry 310 and footnotes (28), (29) (as amended by Reg. (EU) 2019/698)
- Endocrine Disruptor Lists, List II (latest update 2026/04), row 54: Climbazole
This page is general regulatory information, not legal advice. Rely on the legal texts linked above and on your own regulatory experts before making a compliance decision.