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3,4-METHYLENEDIOXYPHENOL

CAS 533-31-3 · 100/100 · High conf.

3,4-METHYLENEDIOXYPHENOL chemical structure

Concern score

100/100Critical concern based on regulatory listings.
High confidence

3,4-METHYLENEDIOXYPHENOL in plain language

What it is

On cosmetic ingredient lists it appears as “4-METHYLENEDIOXYPHENOL”.

Also known as 4-METHYLENEDIOXYPHENOL · Sesamol · 1,3-benzodioxol-5-ol · 2H-1,3-Benzodioxol-5-ol · Oristar mdp · 1,3-Benzodioxol-5-ol (Sesamol)

Show all 18 names

3,4-(Methylendioxy)phenol · 3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenol · 3,4-(metilenodioxi)fenol · 3,4-Methylendioxyphenol · 4-Hydroxy-1,2-methylenedioxybenzene · 5-Benzodioxolol · 5-Hydroxy-1,3-benzodioxole · Benzodioxol-5-ol · Methylene ether of oxyhydroquinone · Phenol, 3,4-(METHYLENEDIOXY)- · sesamol lithium · sesamol sodium

What it does

Used in cosmetics as a hair dye.

  • Hair dyeing
  • Colourant
  • Flavouring
Is it a concern?
Critical concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is banned in EU cosmetics.

Why it's flagged

3,4-Methylenedioxyphenol 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.

Regulation

Restrictions first, then routine listings from published regulatory sources.

  • EU Annex II — prohibited
  • EU prohibited in cosmetics

Recorded in these product areas

  • Found in consumer products
  • Industrial

  • EUEC

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

    banned
    View source →
  • EUCosIngActive2 entries
  • EUEFSAEFSA opinion2 entries
    • Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 22, Revision 1 (FGE.22Rev1): Ring-substituted phenolic substances from chemical groups 21 and 25 (EFSA CEF)Source →
    • Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in contact with Food (AFC) on a request from the Commission related to Flavouring Group Evaluation 22: Ring-substituted phenolic substances from chemical groups 21 and 25 (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1565/2000 of 18 July 2000) (EFSA AFC)Source →
  • USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 1 composition records across product categories including Laboratory supplies. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Dye, Flavouring and nutrient.
    • EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 1 composition records across product categories including Laboratory supplies. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Dye, Flavouring and nutrient.Source →
  • USFDAlisted in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.
    • openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.Source →

Expert safety opinions

Independent scientific assessments cited by the records we hold, with the year and link where the record gives one.

  • 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.

  • EFSA

    European Food Safety Authority

    • Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 22, Revision 1 (FGE.22Rev1): Ring-substituted phenolic substances from chemical groups 21 and 25 (EFSA CEF)

      2011 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →

    • Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in contact with Food (AFC) on a request from the Commission related to Flavouring Group Evaluation 22: Ring-substituted phenolic substances from chemical groups 21 and 25 (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1565/2000 of 18 July 2000) (EFSA AFC)

      2007 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →

Evidence & sources

No graded research studies for 3,4-METHYLENEDIOXYPHENOL yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.

8 data sources

Where this comes from

  • CosIng

    regulatory · updated 2026-09-23

    Open →

  • EU CosIng Cosmetics Regulation Annexes

    regulatory · updated 2010-10-21

    Open →

  • EFSA OpenFoodTox

    regulatory · updated 2026-10-04

    Open →

  • EPA Chemical and Products Database

    exposure · updated 2020-03-12

    Open →

  • EPA DSSTox Identifiers

    chemistry · updated 2025-12-29

    Open →

  • FDA GSRS UNII

    registry · updated 2026-02-26

    Open →

  • openFDA Substance

    registry · updated 2026-05-24

    Open →

  • PubChem Live Enrichment

    chemistry · updated 2026-05-17

    Open →

Suitability

Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.

Food use

Food-use source coverage is present in the current record.

Good fit

The ingredient appears in food-oriented source coverage or allowed-use references, which makes food use easier to support than a context with no domain signal at all.

Fragrance avoidance

No fragrance-linked caution surfaced in the current profile.

Good fit

This ingredient does not currently read as a fragrance-linked driver in the published evidence and hazard profile.

Where it has been recorded

How often EPA CPDat has listed 3,4-METHYLENEDIOXYPHENOL in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.

Source records

1

Named organisations

2

Laboratory supplies

Typical roles

Hair dyeingColourantFlavouring
See products using 3,4-METHYLENEDIOXYPHENOL →

Catalog

Found in these products

Their ingredient lists include 3,4-METHYLENEDIOXYPHENOL; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.

See all 10 →Find products without it →