What’s new?
The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) published its scientific advice (SCCS/1679/25) on 30 June 2025, addressing the safety of Benzophenone-2 (BP-2) and Benzophenone-5 (BP-5) as UV filters in cosmetic products.
This assessment was specifically requested by the European Commission to evaluate potential endocrine disrupting properties of these benzophenone derivatives, which are part of a priority list of 28 potential endocrine disruptors identified following stakeholder consultation in early 2019.
The scientific advice follows the preliminary opinion published on 22 April 2025, with the public consultation period concluding on 17 June 2025, and is focusing particularly on genotoxicity potential and endocrine-active properties of both substances in cosmetic applications.
Main conclusions
Benzophenone 2 (BP-2)
Having considered all the available data, and the concerns relating to potential endocrine disrupting properties, the SCCS could not conclude on the safety of Benzophenone-2 because genotoxicity potential cannot be excluded. The data on repeated dose toxicity and reproductive toxicity of Benzophenone-2 are also either limited or not available. The available evidence shows that BP-2 is an endocrine-active substance, due to a clear demonstration of estrogenic activity both in vitro and in vivo.
Benzophenone 5 (BP-5)
Due to the scarcity of information for Benzophenone-5, the SCCS has considered that data from a close analogue Benzophenone-4 can be used for read-across for the safety assessment of BP-5. Thus, considering the toxicological data and based on deterministic aggregated exposure of BP-4, including the potential endocrine disrupting properties, the SCCS is of the opinion that BP-5 is safe when used as a UV filter up to a maximum concentration of 5% in sunscreen, face and hand cream, lipstick, sunscreen propellant spray and pump spray, when used separately or in combination.
What now?
Manufacturers should prepare for potential inclusion of BP-2 in Annex II (prohibited substances) and possible amendments to BP-5 restrictions in Annex VI (UV filters) of the EU Cosmetics Regulation.
