Answer: Yes — Disperse Yellow 3 is banned in 1 country/region including European Union. The FDA still allows it in US cosmetics and personal-care products. Risk level: medium. Commonly found in: hair dye.
TL;DR: Disperse Yellow 3 is banned in the EU but allowed in the US (dyes & colorants).
Reviewed for clarity & usefulness by the BannedPantry Parent Panel
INCI name Disperse Yellow 3. CAS 2832-40-8.
| EU status | Banned |
|---|---|
| US status | Allowed |
| Risk level | medium |
| Where it shows up | hair dye |
| CAS number | 2832-40-8 |
Disperse Yellow 3 (Disperse Yellow 3) is an azo dye.
It is used for its preservative, coloring, fragrance, solvent or texture-enhancing function.
A sensitizer and possible carcinogen; banned in EU cosmetics.
For educational use only. This page summarizes the regulatory status of Disperse Yellow 3with citations to the primary sources below. It is not medical advice. Regulatory status is not the same as a proven health effect — read the cited sources for their exact wording, and consult a doctor for decisions about your or your family's health.
Choose EU-compliant or 'free-from' formulations and read the INCI list. BannedPantry flags this ingredient and suggests safer swaps.
Disperse Yellow 3 is banned under the EU Cosmetics Regulation (1223/2009), but it is allowed in US personal-care products.
Yes — Disperse Yellow 3 can still appear in US-sold cosmetics and personal-care products because US rules are far less restrictive than the EU's.
Read the INCI ingredient list on the back of the package. Scan the barcode with BannedPantry to flag Disperse Yellow 3 automatically.
Yes. Look for EU-compliant or 'free-from' formulations; BannedPantry suggests safer swaps when it detects Disperse Yellow 3.
Scan any product's barcode and instantly see if it contains Disperse Yellow 3 or other ingredients banned overseas.
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