On 8 May 2025, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) notified to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) an update to the UK Cosmetics Regulation, amending the entry for the UV filter Benzophenone-3 in Annex VI.
The draft regulation is open for comments for 60 days from the date of notification.
The Annex VI entry for Benzophenone-3 will be amended as follows:
- Face products, hand products, and lip products, excluding propellant and pump spray products (a) at 6%.
- Body products, including propellant and pump spray products (b) at 2.2%.
- Other products at 0.5%.
- 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).
The ‘placing on the market’ deadline is 21 January 2026; the ‘making available’ (off shelf) deadline is 21 July 2026.
OPSS WTO Notification: UK Cosmetics Regulation Amendment – Benzophenone-3, 8 May 2025
