Triclosan in the EU: which products may use it, at what limit
The EU allows triclosan only in six product types, at up to 0.3%, with a toothpaste ban for children under three and an obligatory warning (Annex V No 25). The US sets no federal cosmetic limit, and triclosan is no longer allowed in OTC antibacterial washes.
Short answer: in the EU, triclosan may be used only in the six product types listed in Annex V No 25, at up to 0.3% (Regulation 1223/2009, consolidated 18.05.2026), and it is not allowed in toothpaste for children under three — that warning is obligatory on the label. The US sets no federal cosmetic limit.
The numbers
| Rule | EU (Annex V No 25) | US |
|---|---|---|
| Max concentration | 0.3% | No federal cosmetic limit |
| Allowed product types | Toothpastes; hand soaps; body soaps/shower gels; deodorants (non-spray); face powders and blemish concealers; nail products for cleaning nails before artificial nail systems | — |
| Under-3 rule | Not in toothpaste for children under 3; obligatory labeling for toothpaste containing triclosan | — |
If your product type is not on that list — a moisturizer, a wipes pack, a face serum — triclosan is not an option in the EU at any concentration.
US vs EU
The US has no federal cosmetic concentration limit for triclosan. On the drug side, the FDA's 2016 final rule removed triclosan from the OTC consumer antiseptic wash monograph, so OTC antibacterial wash products no longer rely on it. A cosmetic deodorant stick with triclosan stays a cosmetic in the US; the same stick is only EU-legal because deodorants (non-spray) appear in No 25's list.
Common mistakes
- Treating 0.3% as a universal cap. The product-type list comes first — six types, nothing else.
- Sprays: deodorants are listed as non-spray. An aerosol body deodorant with triclosan is outside the entry.
- A children's toothpaste with triclosan for the EU market.
- Copying an old supplier summary that predates the product-type list.
Do this now
Write down your product type in EU terminology and check it against the six-item list above. If it is not there, reformulate or drop the EU claim.
FAQ
Which products may use triclosan in the EU?
Only the six product types listed in Annex V No 25 — toothpastes, hand soaps, body soaps/shower gels, non-spray deodorants, face powders and blemish concealers, and nail products for cleaning nails before artificial nail systems.
What is the triclosan limit in the EU?
0.3% for the listed product types.
Can a children’s toothpaste contain triclosan in the EU?
No. It may not be used in toothpaste intended for children under three, and toothpaste containing triclosan must carry the obligatory labeling.
Sources
- Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex V No 25 — consolidated text 18.05.2026
- FDA, OTC consumer antiseptic wash products final rule — fda.gov
- 21 CFR 701.3, ingredient designation — eCFR, issue 2026-11-06
Last verified: 2026-11-10.
Not legal advice, and not a guarantee of compliance or of acceptance by any authority.
Want this checked against your own formula? Run the free label check. It blocks triclosan in every EU product type outside the six-item list and adds the toothpaste warning where required. It returns an issue list, not a print-ready label.
Related: MIT is rinse-off only in the EU · DMDM hydantoin and formaldehyde