METHYLPARABEN

Annex IV–VI CAS: 99-76-3CosIng #35342

METHYLPARABEN is approved in cosmetics in the EU as a preservative — Annex V, entry 12 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

Methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate

EU regulatory status

Annex of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009: V/12

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.

Last updated:

Functions in cosmetics

Frequently asked questions

  • Is METHYLPARABEN safe in cosmetics?

    METHYLPARABEN 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 METHYLPARABEN listed?

    METHYLPARABEN is listed under reference V/12 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 METHYLPARABEN perform in cosmetics?

    According to the European Commission's CosIng database, METHYLPARABEN performs the following functions in cosmetics: FRAGRANCE, 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 METHYLPARABEN?

    We found 1 recent alerts in the EU Safety Gate database in which METHYLPARABEN appears in the risk description or on the ingredient list of a recalled cosmetic. The full list and details of each alert are below in the Safety Gate alerts section.

Safety Gate alerts mentioning this ingredient

We found 1 recent EU Safety Gate alerts that mention METHYLPARABEN in the hazard description or ingredient list.

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