The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) evaluated the safety of Benzophenone-2 (BP-2) and Benzophenone-5 (BP-5) in cosmetics, with a particular focus on their potential to be endocrine disruptors. Regarding Benzophenone-2, the SCCS concluded that its safety could not be confirmed due to concerns about potential harm to genetic material and a lack of sufficient data on repeated exposure and reproductive effects. Notably, the available evidence clearly indicates that BP-2 exhibits endocrine activity by mimicking estrogen in laboratory and animal studies. Consequently, the SCCS believes that the use of Benzophenone-2 in cosmetic products may present a risk to consumers, and further data on its long-term and reproductive toxicity are necessary for a comprehensive safety evaluation. In contrast, due to limited information on Benzophenone-5, the SCCS relied on data from a similar compound, Benzophenone-4, to conduct its assessment. Based on this information, the SCCS determined that Benzophenone-5 is safe for use as a UV filter at a maximum concentration of 5% in specific cosmetic products like sunscreen, face and hand cream, lipstick, and certain spray formats, whether used alone or in combination. The full publication can be accessed here.
