Jun 18, 2026 - Cosmetics
Formaldehyde – Analysis with Restrictions
According to Annex II No. 1577 of Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009, the use of formaldehyde in cosmetic products is prohibited. The use of so-called formaldehyde-releasers (e.g., Imidazolidinyl Urea) for preservative purposes is permitted in accordance with Annex V, under the restrictions listed there.
Chemically speaking, formaldehyde is the smallest existing aldehyde. Due to its small molecular size, it is highly water-soluble. This property is also utilized in the analytical determination of the substance. A common method for determining free and bound formaldehyde is photometric determination following prior acidic steam distillation. During this process, formaldehyde dissolves in water and transitions into the distillate, where it is detected through the addition of a derivatization agent during subsequent measurement in the photometer. However, the method has significant limitations because the derivatization reagent does not selectively bind to formaldehyde but rather to the aldehyde groups contained in the distillate in general. The presence of other aldehydic compounds besides formaldehyde in the sample under investigation can lead to interferences, which, in extreme cases, may falsely suggest a positive formaldehyde result. Therefore, caution is always advised in case of positive findings, and the result should be confirmed by an instrumental method (e.g., GC-MS). Insight into the formulation data and a close examination of all raw materials used can provide crucial clues about the presence of other aldehydes.
If you have questions about formaldehyde analysis or are unsure which methodology is right for your product, please feel free to contact us.