O-PHENYLPHENOL
O-PHENYLPHENOL is approved in cosmetics in the EU as a preservative — Annex V, entry 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Review the concentration limits and Safety Gate alerts.
Regulatory data checked on 2026-09-05. The legal status follows Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and its annexes; the substance is identified from the European Commission's CosIng database.
About the ingredient
Biphenyl-2-ol
EU regulatory status
Annex of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009: V/7
What entry V/7 of the Regulation says
Biphenyl-2-ol; 2-phenylphenol; 2-hydroxybiphenyl, Sodium 2-biphenylate
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 O-PHENYLPHENOL safe in cosmetics?
O-PHENYLPHENOL 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 does O-PHENYLPHENOL fall?
O-PHENYLPHENOL falls under reference V/7 in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products. An annex entry may name a substance directly or cover it as part of a broader category. 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 O-PHENYLPHENOL perform in cosmetics?
According to the European Commission's CosIng database, O-PHENYLPHENOL 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 O-PHENYLPHENOL?
Our copy of the EU Safety Gate database currently contains no alerts linking O-PHENYLPHENOL to a cosmetic recall. The database is refreshed regularly from the European Commission's official Safety Gate system.