UK to Modify Use Conditions for UV Filter Benzophenone-3

On May 8, 2025, UK notified WTO of a draft regulation titled The Cosmetic Products (Restriction of Chemical Substances) (No.2) Regulations 2025, which proposes changes to use requirements for benzophenone-3 (CAS No. 131-57-7) in cosmetic products. The draft is open for comments until July 7, 2025, and expected to come into force on January 21, 2026.¹

Under UK Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (the Cosmetics Regulation), benzophenone-3 is permitted for use as a UV filter in cosmetic products at concentrations of up to 6%, and can also be used at levels not exceeding 0.5% for the purpose of protecting product formulations. In response to concerns over its potential endocrine-disrupting properties, the Scientific Advisory Group on Chemical Safety of Non-Food and Non-Medicinal Consumer Products (SAG-CS) assessed the substance's safety and published an opinion in October 2024. Based on this opinion, UK has prepared the current draft regulation.

Compared to the existing restrictions, the draft specifies the permitted product types for Benzophenone-3 as a UV filter, along with the associated concentration limits. It also introduces additional conditions for its use as a stabilizer. Details of the amendments are provided in the table below.

Ref. No.	Substance Identification				Restrictions			Labelling of Use Conditions and Warnings
Ref. No.	Chemical Name / INN	Name of Common Ingredients Glossary	CAS No.	EC No.	Product Type	Maximum Concentration	Others	Labelling of Use Conditions and Warnings
4	2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone / Oxybenzone	Benzophenone-3	131-57-7	205-031-5	(a) Face products, hand products, and lip products, excluding propellant and pump spray products; (b) Body products, including propellant and pump spray products; (c) Other products.	6% (a) 6%; (b) 2.2%; (c) 0.5%.	Not more than 0.5% to protect product formulation. For product types (a) and (b), not to be used at more than 0.5% to protect product formulation. If used at 0.5% to protect product formulation, the levels used as UV filter must not exceed 5.5% for product type (a), or 1.7% for product type (b).	Contains Benzophenone-3*
*Notes: Not required if the concentration is 0.5% or less, and when the ingredient is used only for product protection purpose.

The draft is anticipated to be adopted in late July 2025, and scheduled to take effect on January 21, 2026. Cosmetic products containing benzophenone-3 that do not comply with the revised restrictions, provided that they are placed on the market by the regulation's effective date, may continue to be sold until July 21, 2026.

UK to Modify Use Conditions for UV Filter Benzophenone-3

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