Sodium sulfanilate

Sodium sulfanilate in plain language

What it is

Also known as 4-AMINO-BENZENESULFONIC acid monosodium salt · Sodium 4-aminobenzene-1-sulfonate · sodium 4-aminobenzenesulfonate · 4-Aminobenzenesulfonic acid, monosodium salt · 4-Aminobenzenesulfonic acid, sodium salt · 4Aminobenzol1sulfonsaeureNa

Show all 16 names

4SulfoanilinNa · Benzenesulfonic acid, 4-amino-, monosodium salt · Benzenesulfonic acid, 4-amino-, sodium salt (1:1) · Ec 208-208-5 · Sodium 4aminobenzenesulfonate · Sodium sulphanilate · Sulfanilic Acid Sodium Salt · Sulfanilic acid monosodium salt · Sulfanilsaure Na Salz · pSulfanilsaeure Na

What it does

Used in cosmetics as an antioxidant and a hair dye.

• Antioxidant
• Hair dyeing
• Colourant

Is it a concern?

Critical concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is banned in EU cosmetics.

Why it's flagged

4-Aminobenzenesulfonic acid (Sulfanilic acid) and its salts, when used as a substance in hair dye products is prohibited in cosmetic products under Annex II of the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009.

RestrictedEU EC — banned

The score describes this ingredient's chemical identity — its hazard profile from published classifications and regulatory status — not the safety of any product it appears in.

• EU Annex II — prohibited
• EU prohibited in cosmetics

• EU·EC

  Annex II of EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009: substances prohibited in cosmetic products.

  banned
  View source →

• EU·CosIng·Active2 entries

  • Cosmetics Regulation annex II / ref 1257.Source →
  • Restriction: II/1257Source →
• US·EPA·commercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 3 composition records across product categories including Laboratory supplies. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Antioxidant, Dye.

  • EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 3 composition records across product categories including Laboratory supplies. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Antioxidant, Dye.Source →
• US·FDA·listed in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.

  • openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.Source →

Expert safety opinions

No expert opinion on file for Sodium sulfanilate. These are the independent scientific bodies that assess ingredients like this one; we show an opinion only when a record we hold cites it.

• SCCS

  EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety

  No SCCS opinion on file.

• CIR

  Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US expert panel)

  No CIR safety assessment on file.