Is Isobutyric Acid safe in cosmetics?
Isobutyric Acid has a safety rating of "MODERATE" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Isobutyric Acid
Also known as: 4-02-00-00843, Acetic acid, dimethyl-, BRN 0635770, Caswell No. 503AA, Cenex RP b2 (+15 more)
INCI: ISOBUTYRIC ACID
Isobutyric Acid (CAS 79-31-2) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Fragrance. NOAEL 50 mg/kg bw/day (PDF-verified against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 79-31-2 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Isobutyric Acid is classified GHS Danger (H226, H302, H311, H312, H314, H318, H301, H335) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu status; Chemicals: ghs classifications.signal word/hazard statement code
Function
Fragrance
Safety Rating
MODERATE
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
2-methylpropanoic acid
InChIKey
KQNPFQTWMSNSAP-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Allowed in cosmetics; also GRAS as food flavoring
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Isobutyric Acid.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is corrosive to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Corrosive on ingestion.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation, through the skin and by ingestion.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Isobutyric Acid across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
EU CLP Annex VI Harmonized Classification
Legally binding harmonized classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) Annex VI.
Signal Word
Warning
Pictograms
Harmful / Irritant
Hazard Class and Category
Acute Tox. 4 *; Acute Tox. 4 *
Hazard Statements
- H312 Harmful in contact with skin
- H302 Harmful if swallowed
Inserted via ATP: CLP00
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
1,000 - 10,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Hazard classification: Restricted (Annex XVII)
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (2)
ICSC Safety Card
0903
Source: WHO/JECFA
Skin Eye Respiratory Irritation
Isobutyric acid is moderately severe primary irritant to skin & eye in concentrated form. It is not a skin sensitizer. | Strong irritant to tissue.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Regulatory (2)
JECFA Number
253
Source: WHO/JECFA
JECFA Evaluation
ISOBUTYRIC ACID | 1997 | No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent | TRS 884-JECFA 49/37 | FAS 40-JECFA 49/189
Source: WHO/JECFA
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
No specific technical function
pH regulating agent
Regulatory List Membership (3)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Consumer Product Chemical
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Isobutyric Acid.
Regulatory Flags
potential-allergen
fragrance-component
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
jecfa_safe
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Isobutyric Acid by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
3
Lowest NOAEL
1000 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
1000 mg/kg bw/day
ECHA
Known Synonyms
4-02-00-00843
Acetic acid, dimethyl-
BRN 0635770
Caswell No. 503AA
Cenex RP b2
EINECS 201-195-7
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 101502
FEMA No. 2222
Tenox IBP-2
Tenox IBP-2 Grain Pr.
Kyselina isomaselna
UNII-8LL210O1U0
2,2-dimethylacetic acid
2-Methylpropanoate
2-Methylpropionate
2-Methylpropionsaeure
Dimethylacetate
Iso-Butyrate
Isopropylformate
a-Methylpropanoate
Chemical Function
pH regulating agent
No specific technical function
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
Regulatory Lists
Europe
Australia; Food and drug - smoking-related products
IFRA Transparency
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
Canada; pharmaceutical
consumer_product
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical and food safety data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL108778
SOURCE
EFSA / FDA GRAS
food_additives
Food Safety Data
Same-CAS food additive or FDA GRAS records from the core public database.
Food Name
ISOBUTYRIC ACID
ADI
No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent mg/kg bw
Food Category
flavoring
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Isobutyric Acid allowed in the EU?
Isobutyric Acid EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Isobutyric Acid do in cosmetics?
Isobutyric Acid functions as: Fragrance. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 79-31-2.
Is Isobutyric Acid used outside cosmetics?
Isobutyric Acid also appears in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Does Isobutyric Acid have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Isobutyric Acid is classified GHS Danger (H226, H302, H311, H312, H314, H318, H301, H335) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Compliance Tools
Check Isobutyric Acid compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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Chemical family
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Chemical family
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ACRYLIC ACID
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Chemical family
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