PHENYLBENZIMIDAZOLE SULFONIC ACID
PHENYLBENZIMIDAZOLE SULFONIC ACID is approved in cosmetics in the EU as a UV filter — Annex VI, entry 6 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
2-Phenyl-1H-benzimidazole-5-sulphonic acid
EU regulatory status
Annex of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009: VI/6
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 PHENYLBENZIMIDAZOLE SULFONIC ACID safe in cosmetics?
PHENYLBENZIMIDAZOLE SULFONIC ACID 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 PHENYLBENZIMIDAZOLE SULFONIC ACID listed?
PHENYLBENZIMIDAZOLE SULFONIC ACID is listed under reference VI/6 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 PHENYLBENZIMIDAZOLE SULFONIC ACID perform in cosmetics?
According to the European Commission's CosIng database, PHENYLBENZIMIDAZOLE SULFONIC ACID performs the following functions in cosmetics: LIGHT STABILIZER, UV ABSORBER, UV FILTER. 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 PHENYLBENZIMIDAZOLE SULFONIC ACID?
Our copy of the EU Safety Gate database currently contains no alerts linking PHENYLBENZIMIDAZOLE SULFONIC ACID to a cosmetic recall. The database is refreshed regularly from the European Commission's official Safety Gate system.