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Answer: Quaternium-24 is restricted (not fully banned) in European Union. The FDA still allows it in US cosmetics and personal-care products. Risk level: low. Commonly found in: preservative blends.
TL;DR: Quaternium-24 is restricted in the EU but allowed in the US (preservatives).
Reviewed for clarity & usefulness by the BannedPantry Parent Panel
INCI name Quaternium-24. CAS 12001-99-9.
| EU status | Restricted |
|---|---|
| US status | Allowed |
| Risk level | low |
| Where it shows up | preservative blends |
| CAS number | 12001-99-9 |
Quaternium-24 (Quaternium-24) is a preservative.
It is used for its preservative, coloring, fragrance, solvent or texture-enhancing function.
Concentration-restricted in the EU.
For educational use only. This page summarizes the regulatory status of Quaternium-24with 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.
Quaternium-24 is restricted under the EU Cosmetics Regulation (1223/2009), but it is allowed in US personal-care products.
Yes — Quaternium-24 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 Quaternium-24 automatically.
Yes. Look for EU-compliant or 'free-from' formulations; BannedPantry suggests safer swaps when it detects Quaternium-24.
Scan any product's barcode and instantly see if it contains Quaternium-24 or other ingredients banned overseas.
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