Compoatlas

PHENYLBENZIMIDAZOLE SULFONIC ACID (ensulizole)

Official label name (INCI name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 20738

PHENYLBENZIMIDAZOLE SULFONIC ACID (ensulizole): UV filter allowed under conditions, with limits depending on the product type (Annex VI, entry 6), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.

In plain words

What it is used for

Functions declared by manufacturers:

Light stabilizer.

UV absorber: protects the cosmetic product from the effects of UV light.

UV filter: filters certain UV rays in order to protect the skin or the hair from harmful effects of these rays.

What the rules say

An ingredient can be used as a UV filter only if it appears on the list of Annex VI. <function plain_language.<locals>.name at 0x7f7804d43ce0> is on it with a maximum concentration.

The text of the annexes

UV filter allowed under conditions

Entry
Annex VI, No 6
Substance
2-Phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulphonic acid and its potassium, sodium and triethanolamine salts / Ensulizole
Glossary names
PHENYLBENZIMIDAZOLE SULFONIC ACID
CAS
27503-81-7
EC
248-502-0
Maximum concentration
8%(as acid)
Dates in the act (10)
  • Entry into force on 11 January 2010
  • Application from 1 December 2010
    It shall apply from 11 July 2013, with the exception of: — Article 15(1) and (2) which shall apply from 1 December 2010, as well as Articles 14, 31 and 32 to the extent that they are necessary to apply Article 15(1) and (2); and — Article 16(3) second subparagraph, which shall apply from 11 January 2013.
  • Entry into force on 1 December 2010
  • Condition applicable from 11 January 2012
    As from 11 January 2012, by way of derogation from Directive 76/768/EEC, notification carried out in accordance with Article 13 of this Regulation shall be considered to comply with Article 7(3) and Article 7a(4) of that Directive
  • Application from 11 January 2013
    July 2013, with the exception of: — Article 15(1) and (2) which shall apply from 1 December 2010, as well as Articles 14, 31 and 32 to the extent that they are necessary to apply Article 15(1) and (2); and — Article 16(3) second subparagraph, which shall apply from 11 January 2013.
  • Entry into force on 11 January 2013
  • Application from 11 July 2013
    It shall apply from 11 July 2013, with the exception of: — Article 15(1) and (2) which shall apply from 1 December 2010, as well as Articles 14, 31 and 32 to the extent that they are necessary to apply Article 15(1) and (2); and — Article 16(3) second subparagraph, which shall appl
  • Entry into force on 11 July 2013
  • Placing on the market before 11 July 2013
    Article 39 Transitional provisions By way of derogation from Directive 76/768/EEC, cosmetic products which comply with this Regulation may be placed on the market before 11 July 2013.
  • Placing on the market from 11 July 2013
    As from 11 July 2013, a distributor who makes available in a Member State a cosmetic product already placed on the market in another Member State and translates, on his own initiative, any element of the labelling of that product in order to comply with national law, shall submit, by electronic means, the following info

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
36535
CAS (according to CosIng)
27503-81-7
EC (according to CosIng)
248-502-0
Declared functions
Light stabilizer, UV absorber, UV filter
Wikidata
Q7181424
ECHA InfoCard
100.044.078
InChIKey
UVCJGUGAGLDPAA-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Elsewhere in the world

Information on other jurisdictions. What is covered, and what is not yet.

United Kingdom (Great Britain)

  • UV filter allowed under conditions (Annex VI)

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.

Japan

  • Allowed under conditions: フェニルベンズイミダゾールスルホン酸 (Phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid)

    Annex 4-2 (allowed UV filters), entry 25, page 12. Conditions (source text, in Japanese): [sous-liste] 2　化粧品の種類により配合の制限がある成分(注1) | 100ｇ中の最大配合量（ｇ） / 粘膜に使用されることがない化粧品のうち洗い流すもの: 3.0 | 100ｇ中の最大配合量（ｇ） / 粘膜に使用されることがない化粧品のうち洗い流さないもの: 3.0 | 100ｇ中の最大配合量（ｇ） / 粘膜に使用されることがある化粧品: | (注1)　空欄は、配合してはならないことを示し、○印は、配合の上限がないことを示す。

South Korea

  • Restricted: 페닐벤즈이미다졸설포닉애씨드 (PHENYLBENZIMIDAZOLE SULFONIC ACID)

    별표 2, 자외선 차단성분 (UV filters), entry 31, page 17. Limit: 4%.

Australia

  • Active ingredient allowed in sunscreens: PHENYLBENZIMIDAZOLE SULFONIC ACID

    Permissible Ingredients Determination (No. 3) 2026, sunscreen actives, entry 3856, page 37. Thresholds cited: must not be more than 4%. Conditions (source text): Purpose: A | Only for use as an active ingredient in sunscreens for dermal application and not to be included in medicines intended for use in the eye. | The concentration in the medicine must not be more than 4%. | When used in primary sunscreen products, the following warning statements are required on the label: | - (AVOID) 'Avoid prolonged exposure in the sun' (or words to this effect); and | - (SUNPRO) 'Wear protective clothing - hats and eyewear when exposed to the sun' (or words to this effect).

Recorded cosmetics that contain it

200 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.