Excellent Preservative

4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid

INCI: 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID

CAS Number
99-96-7
Function
Preservative, pH Balancer
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status restricted
EU Max Conc. 0.4% (as acid) single; 0.8% mixtures (Annex V/12). Propyl/butylparaben sum ≤0.14%
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes CIR 2019 safe. Methylparaben/propylparaben GRAS for food.

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
moderate
Sensitization
none

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Safe at ≤0.4% single / 0.8% mixtures (Annex V/12). 4-HBA (PHBA) is inactive paraben metabolite with no estrogenic activity. Prohibited in leave-on nappy area for children under 3 years. Non-genotoxic and non-carcinogenic.

⚠️
Concern Level: Low

Regulatory Flags

EU_RESTRICTED fda_food_additive eu_cosing_listed jecfa_safe

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid safe in cosmetics?

Safe at ≤0.4% single / 0.8% mixtures (Annex V/12). 4-HBA (PHBA) is inactive paraben metabolite with no estrogenic activity. Prohibited in leave-on nappy area for children under 3 years. Non-genotoxic and non-carcinogenic. The EU classifies 4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid as "restricted". Safety rating: EXCELLENT.

Is 4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid allowed in the EU?

4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: 0.4% (as acid) single; 0.8% mixtures (Annex V/12). Propyl/butylparaben sum ≤0.14%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does 4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid do in cosmetics?

4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid functions as: Preservative, pH Balancer. It is classified as a Preservative in our database. CAS number: 99-96-7.

What is the Margin of Safety for 4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid?

adequate The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

Compliance Tools

Check 4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
 🧪
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across 55 jurisdictions
 🧮
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
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Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions

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