BENZYLHEMIFORMAL
BENZYLHEMIFORMAL is approved in cosmetics in the EU as a preservative — Annex V, entry 55 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Review the concentration limits and Safety Gate alerts.
Regulatory status as of 2026-08-28 (per the CosIng database).
About the ingredient
Methanol, (phenylmethoxy)-
EU regulatory status
Annex of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009: V/55
Source: the European Commission's official CosIng database and Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products. How we assess ingredients — full methodology.
- View the entry in the CosIng database (European Commission)
- Open Regulation 1223/2009 in EUR-Lex
- Check the chemical profile in PubChem
Last updated:
Functions in cosmetics
Frequently asked questions
Is BENZYLHEMIFORMAL safe in cosmetics?
BENZYLHEMIFORMAL is included on the EU positive list of special-purpose additives (Annex IV – colorants, Annex V – preservatives, or Annex VI – UV filters of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009). It may be used in cosmetics under the conditions laid down for the relevant annex: permitted product categories, maximum concentration and required warnings.
In which annex of Regulation 1223/2009 is BENZYLHEMIFORMAL listed?
BENZYLHEMIFORMAL is listed under reference V/55 in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products. The first part (Roman numeral) indicates the annex: II – prohibited substances, III – substances restricted by conditions, IV – permitted colorants, V – permitted preservatives, VI – permitted UV filters.
What functions does BENZYLHEMIFORMAL perform in cosmetics?
According to the European Commission's CosIng database, BENZYLHEMIFORMAL performs the following functions in cosmetics: PRESERVATIVE. Functions are defined in the CosIng glossary and describe the technological role of a substance in the finished product.
Are there Safety Gate alerts concerning BENZYLHEMIFORMAL?
Our copy of the EU Safety Gate database currently contains no alerts linking BENZYLHEMIFORMAL to a cosmetic recall. The database is refreshed regularly from the European Commission's official Safety Gate system.