Is Coal tar banned?
Yes. Coal tar is banned, restricted, or carries a mandatory warning label in 1 country including European Union. The US FDA still permits it, which is why it shows up in everyday American food and beauty products.
Countries where Coal tar is banned or restricted
| Country / Region | Status |
|---|---|
| European Union | Banned or restricted |
Why Coal tar is flagged
A known human carcinogen. Restricted in the EU (banned in hair dye); permitted in US OTC products.
Scan your pantry for Coal tar
Get a free Safe / Caution / Avoid score on any US food or beauty barcode \u2014 with EFSA + FDA citations.
Scan a product \u2192See the full Coal tar deep-dive page for regulatory citations, products that contain it, and verified clean swaps.