Preservatives
Formaldehyde
Banned in European Union, United Kingdom and Japan; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
Why it matters
Formaldehyde is classed as a carcinogen and is a strong skin sensitiser that causes contact allergy.
What to look for on the label
Formaldehyde, formalin, methylene glycol, methanediol. Common in some hair-smoothing treatments.
Country by country
Around the worldBanned in European Union, United Kingdom and Japan; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
Why: Formaldehyde is classed as a carcinogen and is a strong skin sensitiser that causes contact allergy.
| Place | Status |
|---|---|
| Nigeria | not confirmed |
| European Union | bannedAnnex II/1577 (Reg 2019/831). Formaldehyde releasers must be labelled 'releases formaldehyde' above 0.001%. |
| United Kingdom | bannedReg 2019/831 kept in UK law: Annex V entry 5 deleted, Annex II entry 1577 added. |
| United States | no specific ruleNot on FDA prohibited/restricted list. Status of FDA's proposed hair-smoother ban not checked. |
| Canada | restrictedNot allowed in aerosols. Max 0.2% as preservative, 0.1% oral, 5% nail hardeners (with nail shields). |
| Japan | bannedFormalin is on the Appendix 1 prohibited list. |
Sources: EU Reg 2019/831 (Publications Office) · legislation.gov.uk Reg 2019/831 (UK version) · FDA Prohibited & Restricted Ingredients · Secondary: CosingChecker copy of Hotlist 2025-08-13 · MHLW Standards for Cosmetics (English). Checked 2026-10-19; rules change, so check the regulator before relying on it.
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Paste the ingredient list, scan the barcode or read it from a photo. The check flags formaldehyde 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.