Mercury Compounds
Decode Label flags Mercury Compounds as a high concern in cosmetics and personal care (heavy metal). It was not found in any of the 912 published products we have analysed.
The concern
Mercury in a cosmetic - prohibited in the EU and under the Minamata Convention
Inorganic mercury compounds are sometimes found illegally in skin-lightening creams and soaps. They are prohibited in cosmetics in the EU (apart from tightly limited eye-area preservatives) and the Minamata Convention phases out mercury-added cosmetics above 1 ppm. Mercury damages the kidneys and nervous system and crosses the placenta.
Most relevant to
Cited authority
EU Regulation 1223/2009 Annex II; Minamata Convention on Mercury (Annex A); WHO
Linked sources: EU-CosIng → Minamata Convention →
Not found in this catalogue
0 of 912 published products Decode Label has analysed list Mercury Compounds or any of its label synonyms. That describes this catalogue, not the Indian market as a whole. If a product we score lists it, it will appear here and its score will reflect it.
Regulatory position
From the published regulation itself. Each row links to its source.
| Authority | Status | Reference | Scope / limit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU-CosIng | Prohibited | Annex II 221 | except those special cases included in Annex V | View → |
Hazard classification
A 2023 Conference of the Parties decision removed the 1 ppm threshold entirely for skin-lightening soaps and creams, banning any added mercury. A narrow exception remains for eye-area cosmetics (e.g. mascara) where no safe substitute exists.
Identity
- Canonical name
- Mercury and its compounds, except those special cases included in Annex V
- CAS number
- 7439-97-6
- EC number
- 231-106-7
Also appears on labels as
Questions
Are Mercury Compounds safe?
The EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 prohibits Mercury Compounds in cosmetics (Annex II, entry 221). Why it is flagged: Mercury in a cosmetic - prohibited in the EU and under the Minamata Convention. Decode Label treats it as a high concern in cosmetics and personal care. It was not found in any of the 912 published products we have analysed.
How common are Mercury Compounds in Indian packaged products?
Decode Label has not found Mercury Compounds in any of the 912 published products analysed so far. That describes this catalogue, not the Indian market as a whole.
Which authorities have classified Mercury Compounds?
Minamata Convention — Minamata Convention Art. 4 / Annex A — cosmetics with added mercury above 1 ppm banned.
Are Mercury Compounds restricted or banned anywhere?
Under the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (CosIng), Mercury Compounds 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 Mercury Compounds?
People who are pregnant; Children; Anyone using this regularly.
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.