IngredientsEuropean Union
Sodium benzoate in EU cosmetics: status and maximum concentration
INCI SODIUM BENZOATE · CAS 532-32-1
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
Sodium benzoate 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 sodium benzoate and benzoic acid combined | — | In force |
| Oral products | ≤ 1.7 % as acid, for sodium benzoate and benzoic acid combined | — | In force |
| Leave-on products | ≤ 0.5 % as acid, for sodium benzoate and benzoic acid 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 salts and the esters of benzoic acid (Annex V 1a) (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): Ammonium, calcium, potassium benzoate, methyl benzoate and others: their own entry, not this one.
- Salicylic acid (Annex III 98, Annex V 3), ethylhexyl salicylate (Annex VI 20) and DHHB (Annex VI 28) (CAS 69-72-7, 118-60-5, 302776-68-7): Their CAS index names start with ‘Benzoic acid’; other substances with their own entries.
- 4-Aminobenzoic acid and its esters, with the free amino group (Annex II 167) (CAS 150-13-0): A banned family of aminobenzoic esters (risocaine is one); not benzoic acid or its sodium salt.
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.