PHENYL MERCURIC BENZOATE
PHENYL MERCURIC BENZOATE is approved in cosmetics in the EU as a preservative — Annex V, entry 17 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
Phenylmercury benzoate
EU regulatory status
Annex of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009: V/17
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 PHENYL MERCURIC BENZOATE safe in cosmetics?
PHENYL MERCURIC BENZOATE 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 PHENYL MERCURIC BENZOATE listed?
PHENYL MERCURIC BENZOATE is listed under reference V/17 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 PHENYL MERCURIC BENZOATE perform in cosmetics?
According to the European Commission's CosIng database, PHENYL MERCURIC BENZOATE 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 PHENYL MERCURIC BENZOATE?
Our copy of the EU Safety Gate database currently contains no alerts linking PHENYL MERCURIC BENZOATE to a cosmetic recall. The database is refreshed regularly from the European Commission's official Safety Gate system.