Ethyl PABA

INCI: ETHYL PABA

CAS Number
94-09-7 (benzocaine / ethyl 4-aminobenzoate)
Function
UV Absorber (historical); local anesthetic
Safety Rating
POOR

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status prohibited
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status restricted
US Notes Not approved as a UV filter in OTC sunscreens (21 CFR 310.545 โ€” Category III, insufficient data); benzocaine regulated as OTC drug

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

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
high
Sensitization
high

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Banned in EU cosmetics; strong photoallergen with cross-reactivity to para-amino compounds; methemoglobinemia risk at high exposure; not recommended for cosmetic formulation.

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Concern Level: High

Regulatory Flags

potential-allergen

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ethyl PABA safe in cosmetics?

Banned in EU cosmetics; strong photoallergen with cross-reactivity to para-amino compounds; methemoglobinemia risk at high exposure; not recommended for cosmetic formulation. The EU classifies Ethyl PABA as "prohibited". Safety rating: POOR.

Is Ethyl PABA allowed in the EU?

Ethyl PABA EU regulatory status: prohibited. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Ethyl PABA do in cosmetics?

Ethyl PABA functions as: UV Absorber (historical); local anesthetic. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 94-09-7 (benzocaine / ethyl 4-aminobenzoate).

What is the Margin of Safety for Ethyl PABA?

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.

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