A long and beneficial history

Triclosan was invented by Ciba more than 40 years ago and has proven itself time and again to be a safe, reliable high-quality antimicrobial ingredient used without side effects in many well-known consumer, healthcare and professional products. It is the ingredient of choice, used globally for various applications including hospital hygiene, antibacterial toothpastes, anti-acne treatments, hand soaps and cleaners.

Not all triclosan is created equal

Triclosan is the generic name of the product that Ciba sells under the brand name Ciba® IRGASAN®. For the sake of simplicity on this website, Ciba® IRGASAN® is referred to as triclosan. All of our triclosan is manufactured under the tightest specifications and meets the stringent requirements of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), which sets standards for safety, quality and purity for all prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs in the US. USP quality is required for all final OTC Monograph active ingredients. It is mandatory in triclosan toothpaste applications in the US and is the preference for use in antibacterial hand wash and other human health applications listed on this website. Our commitment to quality and purity sets our triclosan apart from ‘generic-grades’ produced by competitors. These generic grades cost formulators less to develop and use, but cost-cutting steps can also lead to lower quality and impurities in the end product. As a result, Ciba must continually defend and refute negative claims created by the use of low quality triclosan made by others. To get the best quality for you and your family check with the manufacturer of your favorite antibacterial products and request that they be made with Ciba® IRGASAN® DP 300 or IRGASAN® PG 60.

21 CFR 330.14(i) (page 217 in attached document)