Benzophenone-3 is a useful UV filter regulated by the EU Cosmetics Regulation through Entry 4 of Annex VI. As of today, this ingredient can be used in cosmetic products at up to 10%. Its presence should be highlighted on the product label via a specific warning ‘Contains Benzophenone-3’*.

The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) raised some safety concerns related to the use of this ingredient and finally recommended that the maximum use level be reduced to 6%. The EU Commission agreed with this recommendation and published the Regulation EU No 2017/238 to make this new restriction official. The outlined above warning will continue to apply under the same conditions*.

The application of the abovementioned restriction has been deferred to allow industry to make the necessary adjustments to product formulations. Six months have been granted to place on the market compliant products and to withdraw from the market non-compliant products after the entry into force of this Regulation. In other words, this regulation shall apply from September 3rd, 2017.

*Warning not required if the concentration is 0.5 % or less and when it is used only for product protection purposes.