The invention relates to a preservative with reduced formaldehyde emission which comprisesa) at least one formal andb) at least one emission-reducing additive which is chosen from urea, urea derivatives, amino acids, guanidine and guanidine derivatives, where the preservative(i) comprises no iodopropynyl compound and(ii) no derivative of IH-benzimidazol-2-carbamic acid, and to a process for the preparation of the preservative and to the use of the preservative in a technical product.