Is Ethyl PABA safe in cosmetics?
Ethyl PABA has a safety rating of "POOR" in our database. EU status: prohibited. US status: restricted.
Poor
Cosmetic Ingredient
Ethyl PABA
INCI: ETHYL PABA
Ethyl PABA (CAS 94-09-7 (benzocaine / ethyl 4-aminobenzoate)) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as UV Absorber (historical); local anesthetic. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: prohibited. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 94-09-7 (benzocaine / ethyl 4-aminobenzoate) →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
UV Absorber (historical); local anesthetic
Safety Rating
POOR
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
prohibited
US US Status
restricted
US Notes
Not approved as a UV filter in OTC sunscreens (21 CFR 310.545 — Category III, insufficient data); benzocaine regulated as OTC drug
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Ethyl PABA.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Ethyl PABA.
Regulatory Flags
potential-allergen
Frequently Asked Questions
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).
Compliance Tools
Check Ethyl PABA compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
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Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
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Heavy Metal Limits
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