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Cosmetic preservatives No. 6 and UV filters No. 7 (2025): do formulas need changes?

9 min read · Updated 9 Nov 2026

A formulator holding unlabelled sunscreen tubes and reading a document while a colleague points at a laptop

Thai cosmetic preservatives and UV filters: what the 28 November 2025 notices changed

At the end of 2025 the Ministry of Public Health amended the Thai cosmetic preservatives list and the UV filter list at the same time: the notification on preservatives that may be used in cosmetics (No. 6) B.E. 2568 and the notification on UV filters that may be used in cosmetics (No. 7) B.E. 2568. Both are dated 28 November 2025, were published in the Royal Gazette (volume 142, special part 400 Ng) on 24 December 2025, and took effect the day after publication.

This article is based on the notices themselves in this site's archive: which substances changed, how the old and new limits differ, and what owners of existing formulas should check. In short there are four changes.

  • 2-Benzyl-4-chlorophenol (entry 37) is removed from the preservative list.
  • 2-Chloroacetamide (entry 38) is removed from the preservative list.
  • Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate (entry 48) keeps its 0.5% limit but gains a condition on released formaldehyde.
  • Octocrylene (UV filter entry 8) now has separate limits by sunscreen format, with aerosol sprays capped at 9%.

Both notices give holders of notifications issued before the effective date 180 days from the effective date to comply.

Four substances changed on 28 November 2025
Substance (CAS)Old listAfter the notices
Chlorophene / 2-Benzyl-4-chlorophenol (120-32-1)Preservative entry 37, max 0.2%Removed from the preservative list
Chloroacetamide / 2-Chloroacetamide (79-07-2)Preservative entry 38, max 0.3%Removed from the preservative list
Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate (70161-44-3)Preservative entry 48, max 0.5%Max 0.5% and total released formaldehyde below 0.1% w/w
Octocrylene (6197-30-4)UV filter entry 8, max 10%Aerosol spray sunscreen 9% · other formats 10%

Source: MOPH notifications on preservatives No. 6 and UV filters No. 7 B.E. 2568 · main lists of 2018 and 2019

Preservatives No. 6: chlorophene and chloroacetamide removed

Clause 2 of preservatives notification No. 6 repeals entries 37 (2-Benzyl-4-chlorophenol) and 38 (2-Chloroacetamide) in the annex to the 2018 notification on preservatives that may be used in cosmetics, dated 18 September 2018. In the main list, entry 37 carries the INCI name Chlorophene (CAS 120-32-1) with a 0.2% limit, and entry 38 is Chloroacetamide (CAS 79-07-2) with a 0.3% limit.

The practical effect comes from the main notification, which requires preservatives to be used as listed in the annex and regards any use outside the list as containing a prohibited substance, with an exception for cosmetics made for export. With both substances gone from the list, they can no longer be used as preservatives in cosmetics sold in Thailand.

On the same date, the notification on prohibited cosmetic substances (No. 5) B.E. 2568 added entries 1676 to 1685, which include 2-Chloracetamide and Clorofene, effective 180 days after publication. The two notices therefore move in the same direction: both substances leave the permitted list and join the prohibited list. For that prohibited-substance update, see Thai banned cosmetic ingredients updates No. 5 and No. 6.

In this site's substance data, Clorofene (CAS 120-32-1) already appears on prohibited list No. 5 of 2025. Search the names or CAS numbers in your formula with the ingredient search.

Entry 48, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate: same limit, new condition

Clause 3 of preservatives notification No. 6 repeals entry 48 and replaces it. The substance is sodium hydroxymethylamino acetate, INCI name Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate (CAS 70161-44-3).

  • Maximum concentration in the ready-to-use cosmetic: 0.5% (w/w), unchanged from the old list
  • New condition: not permitted unless the total formaldehyde released is less than 0.1% w/w

A formula that already uses 0.5% or less is therefore not automatically fine. You also need to show that total released formaldehyde is below 0.1% w/w. Useful evidence includes raw-material supplier data and analysis of the finished product, kept in the product information file, because the 2017 notification on keeping cosmetic data requires notifiers to keep data for inspection and hand it over on request.

The notice itself does not specify an analytical method, so choose the method and laboratory with expert advice rather than relying on the formula percentage alone.

UV filters No. 7: separate octocrylene limit for aerosol sprays

Clause 2 of UV filter notification No. 7 repeals entry 8 in the annex to the 2019 notification on UV filters that may be used in cosmetics, dated 18 February 2019, and replaces it. The substance is octocrylene (2-Cyano-3,3-diphenyl acrylic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester, CAS 6197-30-4).

  • Before: the 2019 list set a 10% maximum.
  • Now: 9% in aerosol spray sunscreen products, and 10% in sunscreen products in other formats.

The products directly affected are aerosol sunscreens using more than 9% octocrylene. Other sunscreen formats using up to 10% remain within the limit. If your product contains octocrylene but is not a sunscreen, note that the notice sets limits only for the two sunscreen formats; have an expert read the text against your actual formula before concluding.

Sunscreens also carry label requirements, such as the warnings required for cosmetics containing UV filters, which this notice does not change. If you reformulate, review the whole label again.

An unlabelled tube, lotion bottle and cream jar beside a document, reading glasses and an orange note

The 180-day transition: who it covers and how it runs

Clause 4 of preservatives No. 6 and clause 3 of UV filters No. 7 use the same wording: manufacturers for sale, importers for sale and contract manufacturers holding a notification receipt for a cosmetic containing an amended entry, issued before the notice took effect, must comply within 180 days from the effective date.

  • The notices took effect the day after Gazette publication, on 25 December 2025.
  • Counting 180 days from then, the period ended in June 2026.
  • The transition is written for products notified before the effective date, so notifications filed after it must meet the new lists from the start.

As of this article's update, the transition for both notices has ended. Formulas that still contain entry 37 or 38, have not confirmed the entry 48 condition, or are aerosol sunscreens with more than 9% octocrylene should be reviewed and corrected promptly.

Neither notice has a separate provision on goods already manufactured or imported and still in stock. If that applies to you, seek expert advice on your specific case.

Key dates
  1. Notices signedPreservatives No. 6, UV filters No. 7 and related notices
  2. Published in the Royal GazetteVolume 142, special part 400 Ng
  3. Notices take effectNew notifications must meet the new lists
  4. 180 days endPreviously notified products must comply

Source: Preservatives No. 6 clauses 1 and 4 · UV filters No. 7 clauses 1 and 3

Preservatives used in cosmetics: what owners of existing formulas should check

For a brand with several notified products, a practical review order is:

  1. Pull every formula still on sale, from the product information file or the factory, with INCI names and CAS numbers.
  2. Search four substances: Chlorophene (120-32-1), Chloroacetamide (79-07-2), Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate (70161-44-3) and Octocrylene (6197-30-4), including synonyms used by raw-material suppliers, since some raw materials may already contain preservatives.
  3. If entry 37 or 38 is present, change the preservative system.
  4. If entry 48 is present, confirm it is at or below 0.5% and that you hold evidence for the formaldehyde condition.
  5. If octocrylene is present, check the format: aerosol sprays no more than 9%, other formats no more than 10%.
  6. If the formula must change, plan a new notification, update the label and update the product information file.

On re-notification, the Thai FDA explanatory note on reformulated products that keep the old name (amended 29 October 2025) explains that a changed formula receives a new notification number, with a procedure for a letter to the Director of the Cosmetics and Hazardous Substances Control Division justifying the change. Reasons listed in the template include replacing substances or dropping unnecessary ones; other reasons are considered case by case.

Run a first check on the whole formula with the formula checker, and if you want an expert report, contact our regulatory team.

Related notices issued the same day

28 November 2025 brought more than these two notices. Two others dated the same day bear directly on formula checks.

  • Prohibited substances notification (No. 5) B.E. 2568: replaces entry 46 on barium salts, adds prohibited entries 1669 to 1675 effective the day after publication, and entries 1676 to 1685, including 2-Chloracetamide and Clorofene, effective after 180 days.
  • Restricted substances notification (No. 9) B.E. 2568: amends entry 10, hydrogen peroxide, with limits by product group (hair 12%, skin 4%, nails 2%, oral 0.1%); adds silver zinc zeolite at up to 1% in powder foundations and deodorants; and adds methyl-N-methylanthranilate, which may not be used in products exposed to UV light such as sunscreens and tanning products.

The last point matters to sunscreen owners. Methyl-N-methylanthranilate is allowed up to 0.1% in leave-on and 0.2% in rinse-off products, is not allowed in sunscreens, and earlier notifications also have 180 days to comply. If you are already checking sunscreen formulas for octocrylene, check this substance at the same time.

Preservatives in cosmetics: reading the Thai list correctly

Under the 2018 main notification, a preservative is a substance used to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in a cosmetic. The annex gives the substance name, the maximum concentration in the ready-to-use product (w/w) and any conditions. Four rules help you read it correctly.

  • Read the main list with every amendment. The 2018 preservative list has now been amended up to No. 6, and the same entry may change more than once. The full set is in our regulation archive.
  • Limits apply to the ready-to-use product, not to a raw-material blend. If a raw material already contains a preservative, calculate back to the finished product.
  • Always read the conditions column, such as rinse-off only or not permitted unless a condition is met, as entry 48 has just shown.
  • One substance can sit on several lists. If it is used for a purpose other than preservation, check the restricted-substances list; if it has moved to the prohibited list, it cannot be used at all.

If you would like our team to check every formula in your range against the latest notices and prepare an impact report, talk to us.

Frequently asked questions

Can a product preserved with chlorophene or chloroacetamide still be sold?

Preservatives No. 6 removed both from the list, and prohibited-substances No. 5 added both as prohibited. The 180-day transition for previously notified products ended in June 2026, so formulas still containing them need a new preservative system.

I use 0.3% sodium hydroxymethylglycinate. What else do I need?

The concentration is within the 0.5% limit, but you must also meet the new condition that total released formaldehyde is below 0.1% w/w. Keep evidence in the product information file.

Does a sunscreen cream with 10% octocrylene need reformulating?

No, if it is not an aerosol spray. Notice No. 7 still allows 10% in other sunscreen formats; aerosol spray sunscreens are limited to 9%.

Can I keep my notification number after changing the preservative?

No. A changed formula receives a new notification number. If you want to keep the product name, the Thai FDA explanatory note sets out a letter procedure to justify it.

Do these notices apply to export-only products?

The main preservative notification exempts cosmetics for export from the rule that off-list use counts as a prohibited substance. Products made to a foreign buyer's specification follow a separate export notification procedure, so check case by case.

Sources

  1. (1) พระราชบัญญัติเครื่องสำอาง พ.ศ. 2558 · Open source · Search our archive
  2. (1) ประกาศกระทรวงสาธารณสุข เรื่อง กําหนดวัตถุกันเสียที่อาจใช้เป็นส่วนผสมในการผลิตเครื่องสําอาง พ.ศ. 2561 ลงวันที่ 18 กันยายน 2561 และแก้ไขข้อความคลาดเคลื่อน · Open source · Search our archive
  3. (6) ประกาศกระทรวงสาธารณสุข เรื่อง กำหนดวัตถุกันเสียที่อาจใช้เป็นส่วนผสมในการผลิตเครื่องสำอาง (ฉบับที่ 6) พ.ศ. 2568 ลงวันที่ 28 พฤศจิกายน 2568 · Open source · Search our archive
  4. (1) ประกาศกระทรวงสาธารณสุข เรื่อง กําหนดสารป้องกันแสงแดดที่อาจใช้เป็นส่วนผสมในการผลิตเครื่องสําอาง พ.ศ. 2562 ลงวันที่ 18 กุมภาพันธ์ 2562 · Open source · Search our archive
  5. (7) ประกาศกระทรวงสาธารณสุข เรื่อง กำหนดสารป้องกันแสงแดดที่อาจใช้เป็นส่วนผสมในการผลิตเครื่องสำอาง (ฉบับที่ 7) พ.ศ. 2568 ลงวันที่ 28 พฤศจิกายน 2568 ((NEW)) · Open source · Search our archive
  6. (8) ประกาศกระทรวงสาธารณสุข เรื่อง ชื่อวัตถุที่ห้ามใช้เป็นส่วนผสมในการผลิตเครื่องสำอาง พ.ศ. 2566 ลงวันที่ 24 พฤษภาคม 2566 · Open source · Search our archive
  7. (12) ประกาศกระทรวงสาธารณสุข เรื่อง ชื่อวัตถุที่ห้ามใช้เป็นส่วนผสมในการผลิตเครื่องสำอาง (ฉบับที่ 5) พ.ศ. 2568 ลงวันที่ 28 พฤศจิกายน 2568 ((NEW)) · Open source · Search our archive
  8. (1) ประกาศกระทรวงสาธารณสุข เรื่อง กําหนดชื่อ ปริมาณ และเงื่อนไขของวัตถุที่อาจใช้เป็นส่วนผสมในการผลิตเครื่องสําอาง พ.ศ. 2561 ลงวันที่ 29 เมษายน 2561 · Open source · Search our archive
  9. (9) ประกาศกระทรวงสาธารณสุข เรื่อง กำหนดชื่อ ปริมาณ และเงื่อนไขของวัตถุที่อาจใช้ เป็นส่วนผสมในการผลิตเครื่องสำอาง (ฉบับที่ 9) พ.ศ. 2568 ลงวันที่ 28 พฤศจิกายน 2568 · Open source · Search our archive
  10. 6.2 ประกาศกระทรวงสาธารณสุข เรื่อง หลักเกณฑ์ วิธีการ และเงื่อนไขให้ผู้ผลิตเพื่อขาย ผู้นำเข้าเพื่อขาย หรือผู้รับจ้างผลิต จัดเก็บข้อมูลเกี่ยวกับเครื่องสำอางไว้เพื่อการตรวจสอบ พ.ศ. 2560 ลงวันที่ 12 ตุลาคม 2560 · Open source · Search our archive
  11. คำชี้แจง แนวทางการจดแจ้งเครื่องสำอางกรณีมีการเปลี่ยนแปลงสูตรส่วนประกอบ และมีความประสงค์จะใช้ชื่อผลิตภัณฑ์เดิม · Open source · Search our archive
  12. 4.2 ประกาศสำนักงานคณะกรรมการอาหารและยา เรื่อง การจดแจ้งเครื่องสำอางที่ผลิตหรือนำเข้า เฉพาะเพื่อการส่งออกเท่านั้น โดยมีคุณภาพ มาตรฐาน ฉลาก หรือรายละเอียดอื่น ๆ ตามที่ผู้สั่งซื้อกำหนด พ.ศ. 2561 ลงวันที่ 15 สิงหาคม 2561 และ · Open source · Search our archive

This article is for general information. It is not a Thai FDA ruling or legal advice, and rules change — check the latest notification or ask an expert before filing or producing.

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