Kojic Acid
Decode Label flags Kojic Acid as a low concern in cosmetics and personal care (skin irritant). It appears in 1 of the 912 published products we have analysed (0.1%).
The concern
Skin-lightening active - limited to 1% in the EU; can irritate and sensitise
Kojic acid is a skin-lightening active. The EU safety committee concluded it is safe in face and hand products up to 1%, and that higher concentrations raise concerns of skin sensitisation and systemic exposure. Soaps and washes marketed at 2% or more exceed that.
Most relevant to
Cited authority
SCCS opinion on kojic acid (SCCS/1637/21, 2022); EU Regulation 1223/2009
Linked sources: EU-CosIng →
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.
By category
Regulatory position
From the published regulation itself. Each row links to its source.
| Authority | Status | Reference | Scope / limit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU-CosIng | Restricted | Annex III 375 | Face and hand products max 1 % | View → |
Identity
- Canonical name
- 5-Hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4H-pyrane-4-one
- INCI name
- Kojic Acid
- CAS number
- 501-30-4
- EC number
- 207-922-4
Also appears on labels as
Questions
Is Kojic Acid safe?
The EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 permits Kojic Acid in cosmetics only within set limits (Annex III, entry 375). Why it is flagged: Skin-lightening active - limited to 1% in the EU; can irritate and sensitise. Decode Label treats it as a low concern in cosmetics and personal care. It appears in 1 of the 912 published products we have analysed (0.1%).
How common is Kojic Acid in Indian packaged products?
Decode Label found Kojic Acid in 1 of 912 published products (0.1%), most often in Bath & Body.
Is Kojic Acid restricted or banned anywhere?
Under the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (CosIng), Kojic Acid has 1 restricted 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 Kojic Acid?
People with sensitive skin; People who are pregnant.
Products containing Kojic Acid
1 published product, each with its own full analysis.
Related ingredients
Other entries in the register with the same kind of concern.
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 912 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 3 November 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.