EU
Prohibited
Annex II · entry 1670
Rule
Prohibited in cosmetic products
Regulation
(EU) 2021/1902
Applies from
1 March 2022
Before
Allowed up to 1% in rinse-off hair products; those entries were deleted
Is zinc pyrithione banned in cosmetics? Yes, in the EU and in Türkiye.
Zinc pyrithione was the anti-dandruff active in many shampoos. It has been prohibited in EU cosmetics since 1 March 2022, rinse-off hair products included. Türkiye’s annexes list it as prohibited too.
Türkiye
Prohibited
Ek II · entry 1670
Rule
Prohibited in cosmetic products
Both markets prohibit it. A shampoo for either market must not contain zinc pyrithione.
What it is. The EU annex entry.
INCI name | Zinc Pyrithione |
|---|---|
Chemical name | Pyrithione zinc; (T-4)- bis[1-(hydroxy-.kappa.O)pyridine-2(1H)- thionato-.kappa.S]zinc |
CAS | 13463-41-7 |
EC | 236-671-3 |
EU entry | Annex II · 1670 · (EU) 2021/1902 |
Entry updated | 03/11/2021 |
The EU entry is from the Commission’s CosIng file of 13 Oct 2026; Türkiye’s from the current annex text on mevzuat.gov.tr, read 2 Nov 2026.
Why. The reason behind the rule.
Zinc pyrithione is classified as toxic for reproduction, category 1B. Such a substance can stay in cosmetics only by exception, and one condition is that no suitable alternative exists. The SCCS found it safe in rinse-off hair products up to 1%, but it was not shown that no alternative anti-dandruff ingredient exists, so it was prohibited.
Questions about this ingredient.
Can a shampoo contain zinc pyrithione?
No. It is on the prohibited list in the EU, since 1 March 2022, and in Türkiye.
Why was the anti-dandruff use not kept?
An exception for a reproductive toxicant needs proof that no suitable alternative exists. The SCCS found it safe at 1% in rinse-off hair products, but that proof was not given.