Hair dyes, henna & straighteners
Coal tar
Banned in European Union, United Kingdom and Canada; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
Why it matters
Coal tar contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, some of which are carcinogenic.
What to look for on the label
Coal tar, pix carbonis (some dandruff shampoos and older dyes).
Full name: Coal tar (cosmetics/shampoos)
Country by country
Around the worldBanned in European Union, United Kingdom and Canada; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
Why: Coal tar contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, some of which are carcinogenic.
| Place | Status |
|---|---|
| Nigeria | no specific ruleMentioned only as coal tar hair-dye intermediates needing a caution label. |
| European Union | bannedCrude and refined coal tars listed in Annex II, entry 420. |
| United Kingdom | bannedAnnex II entry 420 (crude and refined coal tars). |
| United States | no specific ruleNot on FDA prohibited list; dandruff/psoriasis products are OTC drugs, 0.5-5% coal tar. |
| Canada | bannedCoal tars, crude and refined, prohibited since May 2005. |
Sources: NAFDAC Cosmetics Labelling Regulations 2019 (PolicyVault copy) · Annex II via CosIng Checker (secondary) · GB Cosmetics Regulation (2026-08-15) via CosIng Checker (secondary) · 21 CFR 358.710 · Health Canada: Changes to the Hotlist. Checked 2026-10-19; rules change, so check the regulator before relying on it.
Is it in your product?
Paste the ingredient list, scan the barcode or read it from a photo. The check flags coal tar and anything else worth knowing.
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Education, not legal advice. Rules change: check with your country's regulator before relying on this.