O-PHENYLPHENOL (2-phenylphenol)
Official label name (INCIInternational name of cosmetic ingredients: the one printed on the pack. name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 18315
- Preservative allowed under conditions (Annex V)
O-PHENYLPHENOL (2-phenylphenol): Preservative allowed under conditions, with limits depending on the product type (Annex V, entry 7), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Good to know: classified carcinogenic (category 2); classified as a sensitiser (skin allergy); hazardous to the aquatic environment. Annexes of the Regulation consulted on 21 October 2026.
Who it concerns
What official classifications and rules say for each group. A classification describes the hazard of the pure substance, not the risk of a product that contains it, which depends on the dose and the exposure.
Prohibition or serious classificationThe text prohibits the substance for this use, or ranks it among the most serious hazards (known or presumed carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic, identified endocrine disruptor).Worth watchingThe text sets a condition or flags a hazard worth knowing: allergen, suspected effect, condition for children, hazard to the aquatic environment.For informationOfficial information with no condition on a finished product: warning to read, irritation of the pure substance.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
No classification harmonised by the European Union covers reproduction, the unborn child or breastfeeding for this substance. This does not mean it has been judged to have no effect during pregnancy.
Babies and children
The Cosmetics Regulation sets no age-related condition for this ingredient.
Skin, eyes and allergies
Worth watchingThe text sets a condition or flags a hazard worth knowing: allergen, suspected effect, condition for children, hazard to the aquatic environment.
Worth watching Classified under the CLPEU regulation that classifies chemicals by their hazards (EC No 1272/2008). Regulation: skin corrosion, category 1 (Skin Corr. 1); serious eye damage, category 1 (Eye Dam. 1); skin sensitisation, category 1B (Skin Sens. 1B).
Environment
Worth watchingThe text sets a condition or flags a hazard worth knowing: allergen, suspected effect, condition for children, hazard to the aquatic environment.
Worth watching Classified under the CLP Regulation: hazardous to the aquatic environment, short term, category 1 (Aquatic Acute 1); hazardous to the aquatic environment, long term, category 1 (Aquatic Chronic 1).
Read on the label
For informationOfficial information with no condition on a finished product: warning to read, irritation of the pure substance.
For information Annex V, entry 7, requires this to be printed on the pack: “Avoid contact with eyes.”.
Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), consolidated version, Annex VI table 3, retrieved 21 October 2026.
CosIng, Annex V of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (allowed preservatives), retrieved 21 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
In plain words
What it is used for
Functions declared by manufacturers:
Preservative: inhibits primarily the development of micro-organisms in cosmetics.
Functions declared in the CosIngThe European Commission's database of cosmetic ingredients. inventory. CosIng, inventory of cosmetic ingredients (INCI names, CAS, EC, functions), retrieved 21 October 2026.
Definitions of functions (decision repealed on 8 May 2020, cited for information). Decision 2006/257/EC, inventory of cosmetic ingredients (definitions of functions), retrieved 22 October 2026.
What the rules say
An ingredient can be used as a preservative only if it appears on the list of Annex V. O-PHENYLPHENOL is on it with a maximum concentration, for some product types only and with a warning to print.
CosIng, Annex V of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (allowed preservatives), retrieved 21 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
Hazard and risk
The CLP Regulation classifies this substance as carcinogenic, category 2 (suspected effect, without enough evidence for a higher category).
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).
Classified as a category 2 CMRCarcinogenic, mutagenic (damages DNA) or toxic for reproduction. and allowed under the conditions of Annex V, after an SCCSEU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety: it assesses cosmetic ingredients. assessment.
Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), consolidated version, Annex VI table 3, retrieved 21 October 2026.
The text of the annexes
Preservative allowed under conditions
This entry covers the same substance as O-PHENYLPHENOL (same CAS number in the CosIng inventory): its conditions apply.
| Product type | Maximum concentration |
|---|---|
| (a) Rinse-off products | 0.2% (as phenol |
| (b) Leave-on products | 0.15% (as phenol) |
- Other conditions
- When o-Phenylphenol and Sodium o-Phenylphenate are used together, the combined concentration (as phenol) shall not exceed 0,2 % in rinse-off and 0,15 % in leave-on products. Not to be used in applications that may lead to exposure of the end-user’s lungs by inhalation. Not to be used in oral products.
- Warning to print
- Avoid contact with eyes.
- Entry
- Annex V, No 7
- Substance
- Biphenyl-2-ol; 2-phenylphenol; 2-hydroxybiphenyl, Sodium 2-biphenylate
- Glossary names
- o-Phenylphenol, Sodium o-Phenylphenate
- CAS
- 90-43-7, 132-27-4
- EC
- 201-993-5, 205-055-6
Dates in the act (2)
- Entry into force on 2 February 2026
- Application from 1 May 2026
It shall apply from 1 May 2026.
Excerpts from the English text published in the Official Journal. A date may concern only some substances of the act: the excerpt says so.
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex V, entry 7. CosIng, Annex V of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (allowed preservatives), retrieved 21 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
Entry from Regulation (EU) 2026/78, adopted on 12 January 2026.
SCCS opinions cited: ADDENDUM to the scientific opinion on o-Phenylphenol, Sodium o-phenylphenate and Potassium o-phenylphenate (SCCS/1555/15); SCCS Opinion on Biphenyl-2-ol and Sodium 2-biphenylolate used in cosmetic products (CAS/EC No. 90-43-7/201-993-5 and 132-27-4/205-055-6).
What has changed, and what will change
Dates of the texts that cover this ingredient. A text date may cover several substances: the details of each entry are below.
Annex V, entry 7: introduced or replaced by Regulation (EU) 2026/78
Annex V, entry 7: applies from this date
CLP classification “Carc. 2” applicable at the latest from this date (Regulation (EU) 2024/2564)
Identity
- CosIng identifier
- 35733
- CAS (according to CosIng)
- 90-43-7
- EC (according to CosIng)
- 201-993-5
- Declared functions
- Preservative
- Wikidata
- Q209467
- PubChem
- 7017
- ECHAEuropean Chemicals Agency. InfoCard
- 100.001.812
- InChIKey
- LLEMOWNGBBNAJR-UHFFFAOYSA-N
CosIng inventory. CosIng, inventory of cosmetic ingredients (INCI names, CAS, EC, functions), retrieved 21 October 2026.
Wikidata, items with a CosIng identifier (P3073), retrieved 22 October 2026.
Wikidata, PubChem and ECHA links are published only when verified: same CosIng identifier, a single item, matching CAS number.
Classified hazard (CLP Regulation)
The harmonised classification is the one set by the European Union for the whole Union. H codes refer to the hazard statements of Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008.
biphenyl-2-ol; 2-phenylphenol; 2-hydroxybiphenyl
Carcinogenicity, category 2 (Carc. 2)
- Hazard classes
- Carcinogenicity, category 2 (Carc. 2)
Skin corrosion, category 1 (Skin Corr. 1)
Serious eye damage, category 1 (Eye Dam. 1)
Skin sensitisation, category 1B (Skin Sens. 1B)
Hazardous to the aquatic environment, short term, category 1 (Aquatic Acute 1)
Hazardous to the aquatic environment, long term, category 1 (Aquatic Chronic 1) - Hazard statements
- H351 H314 H318 H317 H400 H410
Annex VI, entry 604-020-00-6, linked by CAS 90-43-7. Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), consolidated version, Annex VI table 3, retrieved 21 October 2026.
Entry introduced or replaced by Regulation (EU) 2024/2564, applicable at the latest from 1 May 2026.
Elsewhere in the world
Information on other jurisdictions, with no effect on sale in France. What is covered, and what is not yet.
Comparison between countries
Most restrictive status in each country, and the maximum concentration cited. The details and the source of each rule follow.
| Country | Rule | Maximum concentration cited |
|---|---|---|
| European Union | Preservative allowed under conditions | 0.15 to 0.2% |
| United Kingdom | Preservative allowed under conditions | 0.15 to 0.2% |
| Switzerland | EU Regulation applies | 0.15 to 0.2% |
| United States (federal) | No federal rule recorded | not cited |
| Japan | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| South Korea | Restricted differs from the EU | 0.15% |
| China | Not on the prohibited lists recorded (lists of allowed substances are not recorded) | not cited |
| Australia | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| Brazil | Allowed under conditions | 0.15 to 0.2% |
United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Preservative allowed under conditions (Annex V)
Same entries as in the European Union. Their maximum concentrations are compared in the “Comparison between countries” table; other conditions (product types, warnings) may differ.
Annexes II to VI in force. United Kingdom, Annexes II to VI of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as retained and amended, retrieved 21 October 2026.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Northern Ireland applies EU law.
Switzerland
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 applies in Switzerland (Article 54 of the Ordinance on Foodstuffs and Utility Articles).
Switzerland, FDHA Ordinance on Cosmetic Products (OCos, SR 817.023.31), consolidated version, retrieved 22 October 2026.
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.
United States, 21 CFR part 700 and section 250.250 (FDA rules on cosmetic ingredients), eCFR, retrieved 21 October 2026.
The eCFR is not an official legal edition of the Code of Federal Regulations.
South Korea
- Restricted: 비페닐-2-올(ο-페닐페놀) 및 그 염류 (O-PHENYLPHENOL)
별표 2, 보존제 성분 (preservatives), entry 22, page 5. Limit: 페놀로서 0.15%.
Conditions, source text, in Korean
화학물질명: 소듐 o-페닐페네이트 (CAS No. 132-27-4) | 화학물질명: o-페닐페놀 (CAS No. 90-43-7) | 화학물질명: 포타슘 o-페닐페네이트 (CAS No. 13707-65-8) | 화학물질명: MEA o-페닐페네이트 (CAS No. 84145-04-0)
South Korea, MFDS Regulation on Safety Standards for Cosmetics, Notification 2026-19, retrieved 22 October 2026.
Source: 식품의약품안전처 (MFDS), 화장품 안전기준 등에 관한 규정, via law.go.kr; table formatted by the publisher of this site.
Brazil
- Allowed under conditions: Bifenil-2-ol (o-fenilfenol) (O-PHENYLPHENOL)
RDC 528/2021, Anexo (allowed preservatives), entry 7, page 3. Limit: a) 0.2% (expresso como fenol) em produtos que se enxáguem. b) 0.15% (expresso como fenol) em produtos que não se enxáguem..
Conditions, source text, in Portuguese
LIMITAÇÕES: Proibidos os sais de o-phenylphenol. | CONDIÇÕES DE USO E ADVERTÊNCIAS: Evitar contato com os olhos.
Brazil, ANVISA resolutions RDC 529/2021, 528/2021, 600/2022 and 628/2022, retrieved 22 October 2026.
Source: ANVISA. Text of the adopted draft resolutions, as the Official Journal could not be accessed; the 2021 lists of prohibited substances and preservatives were compared with the copy of the published text distributed by the State of Paraná, the 2022 lists of UV filters and colorants were not.
Glossary: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175. Page updated on 21 October 2026.