EC Number – Cosmetic Ingredient Identification in the European Union

What Is an EC Number?

An EC Number is a numerical identifier assigned to substances listed in European chemical inventories. The term is commonly associated with the EINECS (European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances), which was established to identify substances that were on the European market during the relevant inventory period.

The EINECS inventory was officially published on 15 June 1990 and includes substances that were commercially available in the European Community between 1 January 1971 and 18 September 1981.

EC Numbers in Cosmetic Formulation

EC Numbers are commonly used alongside other substance identifiers when preparing cosmetic formulation and regulatory documentation. Depending on the substance, documentation may include several identifiers, such as:

• INCI name
• Chemical name
• CAS Registry Number
• EC/EINECS Number
• Supplier-specific identification
• Product or raw material specifications

Using these identifiers together helps ensure that the correct substance is being referenced throughout formulation, safety, and regulatory documentation.

EINECS and Other European Inventories

The term EC Number can refer more broadly to identifiers assigned within European chemical inventories. EINECS is one of the historical inventories, while other European inventories were subsequently established for substances introduced or notified under different regulatory frameworks.

For cosmetic formulation work, the relevant EC Number should therefore be checked against the specific substance and the applicable regulatory documentation.

Where Can EC Numbers Be Checked?

EINECS and related European chemical inventories can be searched through official European Union chemical information resources and other recognised databases.

Source: https://ec.europa.eu/