Ingredient register

Coal Tar

Avoid Carcinogen Cosmetics and personal care CAS 8007-45-2

Decode Label flags Coal Tar as a high concern in cosmetics and personal care (carcinogen). It appears in 1 of the 893 published products we have analysed (0.1%).

The concern

Dandruff/psoriasis treatment — known carcinogen (IARC Group 1)

Coal tar is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by IARC. It is still permitted in dandruff and psoriasis shampoos in the US at concentrations up to 5%, but restricted in EU cosmetics. Long-term use increases risk of skin cancer with UV exposure. Use only under dermatologist supervision.

Most relevant to

Anyone using this regularly

Cited authority

IARC; EU Cosmetics Regulation Annex II; FDA OTC Monograph

Linked sources: EU-CosIng → FDA →

How common it is in this catalogue

Measured across every product Decode Label has analysed — not estimated, and not taken from anyone else's dataset.

1 of 893 published products 0.1%

By category

Haircare 1

Regulatory position

From the published regulation itself. Each row links to its source.

Authority	Status	Reference	Scope / limit	Source
EU-CosIng	Prohibited	Annex II 420	—	View →

Hazard classification

FDA 21 CFR 358 Subpart H — OTC monograph caps coal tar at 0.5–5% in anti-dandruff products Restricted route: dermal 2007-03-06 source →

This FDA monograph governs permitted THERAPEUTIC use and concentration in dandruff/seborrheic-dermatitis/psoriasis drug products; it is a separate, corroborating instrument alongside coal tar's existing IARC Group 1 classification, not a replacement for it.

IARC IARC Group 1 Carcinogen route: dermal

topical/occupational exposure

Identity

Canonical name: Coal tar
INCI name: Coal Tar
CAS number: 8007-45-2
EC number: 232-361-7

Also appears on labels as

CI 77266 Coal Tar Solution Crude Coal Tar

Questions

Is Coal Tar safe?

The EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 prohibits Coal Tar in cosmetics (Annex II, entry 420). Why it is flagged: Dandruff/psoriasis treatment — known carcinogen (IARC Group 1). Decode Label treats it as a high concern in cosmetics and personal care. It appears in 1 of the 893 published products we have analysed (0.1%).

How common is Coal Tar in Indian packaged products?

Decode Label found Coal Tar in 1 of 893 published products (0.1%), most often in Haircare.

Which authorities have classified Coal Tar?

FDA — 21 CFR 358 Subpart H — OTC monograph caps coal tar at 0.5–5% in anti-dandruff products; IARC — IARC Group 1.

Is Coal Tar restricted or banned anywhere?

Under the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (CosIng), Coal Tar has 1 prohibited entry. Each is shown with its annex reference and a link to the source in the Regulatory position table.

Who should be most careful with Coal Tar?

Anyone using this regularly.

Products containing Coal Tar

1 published product, each with its own full analysis.

Kesh Kanti Reetha Hair Cleanser

Related ingredients

Other entries in the register with the same kind of concern.

Formaldehyde BHA Carbon Black DMDM Hydantoin Hydroquinone Imidazolidinyl Urea

Method and limits

Prevalence counts published products whose decoded ingredient list matches this substance or one of its label synonyms, using the same matching the score itself uses. It describes our catalogue of 893 products, not the Indian market as a whole.
Presence is not dose. An ingredient list gives order, not quantity, unless the pack declares a percentage. Nothing here estimates how much of this substance any product contains.
A classification is not a verdict on a product. An agency classifies a substance under defined conditions of exposure; whether that matters in a given food or cosmetic depends on route, concentration and use.
Last updated. This register entry was last changed on 28 September 2026.
Corrections. Every figure here is reproducible from the sources named. If something is wrong, tell us and we will correct it and say what changed.