Flavor ingredient regulatory record
2-Methylbutylamine
2-Methylbutylamine is an amine in the fruity family, FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 4241 (CAS 96-15-1). Its odor is sweet, fruity, floral, herbal, nutty.
- FEMA
- 4241
- CAS
- 96-15-1
- JECFA
- 1586
- EU FL
- 11.020
- Formula
- C5H13N
- EC
- 202-483-5
GRAS status: FEMA GRAS, publication 22. Recorded by FDA in the Substances Added to Food inventory under CAS 96-15-1.
Structure
Identity
Also known as: 1-Butanamine, 2-methyl-, Butylamine, 2-methyl-, 2-Methyl-1-butanamine, 1-Amino-2-methylbutane, 2-Methyl-1-butylamine, β-Methylbutylamine, 2-Methylbutanamine, dl-2-Methylbutylamine, (±)-2-Methylbutylamine, 2-Ethylpropylamine, 2-methylbutan-1-amine, 1-butanamine, 2-methyl-.
Can 2-Methylbutylamine be labeled natural?
Nature occurrence: Not yet found in nature (provisional).
Nature occurrence has not been settled for this substance, so the natural or artificial class is not stated here. The FEMA GRAS status does not depend on it.
Regulatory status, with citations
United States
2-Methylbutylamine is FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 4241. It is cited in the Code of Federal Regulations at 21 CFR 172.515.
European Union and United Kingdom
Listed on the Union List of flavouring substances as FL 11.020, Annex I Part A under Regulation (EC) 1334/2008, evaluation status approved (EFSA). The UK retains the same list.
JECFA (WHO / FAO)
JECFA number 1586, evaluated at the 65th meeting in 2005. No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent.
Other US flags
Not on the California Proposition 65 list.
TSCA Inventory status
A flavor ingredient is also an industrial chemical. 2-Methylbutylamine appears on the EPA Toxic Substances Control Act Chemical Substance Inventory under CAS 96-15-1, where EPA names it 1-Butanamine, 2-methyl-.
Active in US commerce
EPA designates this substance active, so no Notice of Activity Form B is required before manufacturing. What active and inactive mean.
EPA publishes no regulatory flags on this listing. What the flags mean.
From the EPA non-confidential TSCA Inventory, July 2026 release. EPA also maintains a confidential portion it does not publish. Search the Inventory by CAS number.
Odor and taste
Odor: Sweet, fruity, floral, herbal, nutty.
Where it is used
2-Methylbutylamine is used in beverage, confection, savory dishes and snacks, typically as a fruity note.
Structurally similar flavor ingredients
Flavor ingredients with a GRAS determination closest to 2-Methylbutylamine by structure. Whether one can replace it is a sensory and regulatory call; the reformulation tool works that through.
| Material | FEMA | Similarity | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butylamine | 3130 | 95% | In nature |
| Isopentylamine | 3219 | 94% | In nature |
| (+/-)-2-Methyl-1-butanol | 3998 | 93% | In nature |
| Isobutylamine | 4239 | 90% | In nature |
| sec-Butylamine | 4240 | 90% | In nature |
More amines in this index
Phenethylamine · Isopentylamine · Hexylamine · Isopentylidene isopentylamine · Pentylamine · Thiamine hydrochloride
2-Methylbutylamine FAQ
Is 2-Methylbutylamine on the FEMA GRAS list?
It is. FEMA number 4241 covers 2-Methylbutylamine. The Code of Federal Regulations lists it at 21 CFR 172.515.
What is the FEMA number for 2-Methylbutylamine?
The FEMA number for 2-Methylbutylamine is 4241 and its CAS registry number is 96-15-1. Its flavor category is fruity.
What is 2-Methylbutylamine used for?
2-Methylbutylamine is described as sweet, fruity, floral, herbal, nutty. It shows up in beverage, confection, savory dishes and snacks.
What did JECFA conclude about 2-Methylbutylamine?
JECFA evaluated 2-Methylbutylamine at the 65th meeting in 2005 under JECFA number 1586. The panel concluded: No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent.
Is 2-Methylbutylamine approved in the EU?
Yes. FL 11.020 is the Union List entry for 2-Methylbutylamine, annex I Part A, under Regulation 1334/2008, and the UK keeps the same list.
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Sources and attribution. The identity and regulatory facts on this page are taken from the FDA Substances Added to Food inventory, a US government record, which lists this substance as 2-METHYLBUTYLAMINE under CAS 96-15-1 and carries its FEMA number, its JECFA flavor number. The inventory is searchable at FDA. FDA records its technical effect as flavoring agent or adjuvant.
A FEMA GRAS conclusion is reached by the Expert Panel of the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association of the United States, and the FEMA number names that conclusion. FEMA publishes its own entry for this substance in the FEMA Flavor Library, which is the authoritative record of what the Panel decided and is worth reading alongside this page.
Ambrose Compliance is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by FEMA. FEMA and FEMA GRAS are used here as identifiers for a published regulatory determination, not as marks of any relationship between FEMA and Ambrose.
About this page. Facts come from the FDA Substances Added to Food inventory, the Code of Federal Regulations, the EPA TSCA Inventory, the EU Union List, JECFA and the Ambrose database, with FEMA's published determination cited where it applies; parts of the text are written by Ambrose AI, which can make mistakes. Check the cited source before relying on anything here. This is not regulatory or legal advice.