IngredientsEuropean Union
Benzoic acid in EU cosmetics: status and maximum concentration
INCI BENZOIC ACID · CAS 65-85-0
EU status: Allowedcapped by product type
Data from Certo’s regulatory database as of
Some rows corrected against the legal texts on
The short answer
Benzoic acid is allowed in cosmetic products sold in the European Union (capped by product type). The binding limits are set in Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex V, entry 1.
EU legal requirements
| Product type or use | Limit | Conditions and label wording | Applies from |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU Cosmetics Regulation, Annex V 1 — Every use, whatever its function. Benzoic acid and sodium benzoate count together, as acid. Legal text | |||
| Rinse-off products, except oral | ≤ 2.5 % as acid, for benzoic acid and sodium benzoate combined | — | In force |
| Oral products | ≤ 1.7 % as acid, for benzoic acid and sodium benzoate combined | — | In force |
| Leave-on products | ≤ 0.5 % as acid, for benzoic acid and sodium benzoate combined | — | In force |
What the texts say
1 | Benzoic acid and its sodium salt | Benzoic acid Sodium Benzoate | 65-85-0 532-32-1 | 200-618-2 208-534-8 | Rinse-off products, except oral products | 2,5 % (acid) Oral products | 1,7 % (acid) Leave-on products | 0,5 % (acid)
Not to be confused with
- Other benzoic acid salts and esters (ammonium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, MEA benzoate; methyl to phenyl benzoate) (CAS 1863-63-4, 2090-05-3, 582-25-2, 553-70-8, 4337-66-0, 93-58-3, 93-89-0, 2315-68-6, 136-60-7, 120-50-3, 939-48-0, 93-99-2): Other substances, under their own entry (Annex V 1a).
- Salicylic acid (CAS 69-72-7): Printed ‘Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-’: another substance, with its own entries.
- 4-Aminobenzoic acid and its esters with the free amino group (risocaine among them) (CAS 150-13-0): Banned (Annex II 167); not benzoic acid.
- Ethylhexyl salicylate, diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate (DHHB) (CAS 118-60-5, 302776-68-7): UV filters whose CAS index names start with ‘Benzoic acid’ (Annex VI 20, 28).
Sources
This page is general regulatory information, not legal advice. Rely on the legal texts linked above and on your own regulatory experts before making a compliance decision.