BENZOPHENONE
Official label name (INCI name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 3215
- Prohibited in cosmetics (Annex II)
BENZOPHENONE: Prohibited in cosmetics (Annex II, entry 1703), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
In plain words
What it is used for
Functions declared by manufacturers:
Fragrance.
Light stabilizer.
What the rules say
It is prohibited to use it in a cosmetic product sold in the European Union, whatever the dose. If it appears on the ingredient list of a recent product, this needs checking: the record may be old or wrong, or the product intended for another market.
Hazard and risk
The CLP Regulation classifies this substance as carcinogenic, category 1B (presumed effect, established mainly from animal studies).
This classification describes what the substance can cause (a hazard), not what happens when using a product (a risk): the risk depends on the dose, the form and the route of exposure (skin, inhalation, ingestion).
Already prohibited in cosmetics (Annex II).
The text of the annexes
Prohibited in cosmetics
CosIng links the name BENZOPHENONE to this Annex II entry.
- Entry
- Annex II, No 1703
- Substance
- Benzophenone
- CAS
- 119-61-9
- EC
- 204-337-6
Dates in the act (3)
- Entry into force on 9 August 2023
- Application from 1 December 2023
It shall apply from 1 December 2023.
- Entry into force on 1 December 2023
Excerpts from the English text published in the Official Journal. A date may concern only some substances of the act: the excerpt says so.
Identity
- CosIng identifier
- 74467
- CAS (according to CosIng)
- 119-61-9
- EC (according to CosIng)
- 204-337-6
- Declared functions
- Fragrance, Light stabilizer
- Wikidata
- Q409482
- PubChem
- 3102
- ECHA InfoCard
- 100.003.943
- InChIKey
- RWCCWEUUXYIKHB-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Classified hazard (CLP Regulation)
A classification describes an intrinsic hazard, not a risk: the risk depends on the dose, the form and the exposure.
benzophenone
CMR Carc. 1B
- Hazard classes
- Carc. 1B
- Hazard statements
- H350
Already prohibited in cosmetics (Annex II).
EU product alerts (Safety Gate)
3 alerts on cosmetic products cite this name in their hazard description. An alert targets a specific product, not the ingredient itself; each alert states the reason (prohibited substance, limit exceeded, missing labelling, and so on).
Elsewhere in the world
Information on other jurisdictions. What is covered, and what is not yet.
United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Prohibited in cosmetics (Annex II)
Same entries as in the European Union. Conditions (concentrations, warnings) may differ: they are not compared here.
Switzerland
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 applies in Switzerland (Article 54 of the Ordinance on Foodstuffs and Utility Articles).
United States, federal rules
None of the integrated sections of the federal code (21 CFR 700.11 to 700.27 and 250.250) targets this name. The FDA does not publish a list of allowed ingredients.
Recorded cosmetics that contain it
4 recorded products list it, according to Open Beauty Facts contributors. Records are dated: the formula may have changed. See the list (page in French).
Glossary: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175. Page updated on 21 October 2026.