Moderate Cosmetic Ingredient NOAEL Data GHS Classified SCCS/CIR Reviewed

O-PHENYLPHENOL

CAS Number
90-43-7
Function
Preservative
Safety Rating
MODERATE

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status Restricted
EU Max Conc. V/7 The use of o-phenylphenol as a preservative should be allowed with a maximum concentration of 0,15 % (as phenol) in leave-on and 0,2 % (as phenol) in rinse-off cosmetic products. Contact with eyes should be avoided. The use of sodium o-phenylphenate, potassium o-phenylphenate and MEA o-phenylphenate as preservatives should not be allowed.
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status prohibited
US Notes Allowed โ€” not specifically restricted or prohibited for cosmetic use; manufacturer bears responsibility for safety substantiation.

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

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
NOAEL: 25 mg/kg bw/day | Source: SCCS/1669/24 | Study: developmental tox rabbit

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Toxicological Studies

10 study endpoints found for O-PHENYLPHENOL. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.

Endpoint Value Route Species Study Type Source
NOAEL 39 mg/kg bw/day oral rat oral REACH
NOAEL >=1000 mg/kg bw/day dermal rat dermal REACH
NOAEL >=300 mg/kg bw/day oral dog oral REACH
NOAEL 250 mg/kg bw/day oral mouse oral REACH
NOAEL 1400 mg/kg bw/day dermal code:3543 dermal REACH
NOAEL 300 other oral dog oral REACH
NOAEL >200 mg/kg bw/day oral rat oral REACH
NOAEL 100 mg/kg bw/day oral rabbit oral REACH
NOAEL 100 mg/kg bw/day oral mouse oral REACH
NOAEL 500 mg/kg bw/day oral rat oral REACH

GHS Hazard Classification

Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.

Signal Word
WARNING
Pictograms
excl mark;warn; enviro;aqua
Hazard Statements
May be harmful if swallowed Causes skin irritation Causes serious eye irritation May cause respiratory irritation Very toxic to aquatic life
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is severely irritating to the eyes. The substance is irritating to the skin and respiratory tract.
Long-term Exposure Effects
Tumours have been detected in experimental animals but may not be relevant to humans.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its vapour, through the skin and by ingestion.

Safety Opinions

Official safety assessments from the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR).

sccs SCCS/1669/24 25 October 2024
Verdict: safe
NOAEL: 25 mg/kg bw/day (not specified)
Max Concentration: 0.2% in rinse-off

osmetic products? In light of the data provided, the SCCS considers o-Phenylphenol safe when used as preservative up to a maximum concentration of 0.2 % in rinse-off and 0.15 % in leave- on cosmetic products. O-Phenylphenol and Sodium o-Phenylphenate, when used together: โ€ข should no

sccs SCCS/1669/24 25 October 2024
Verdict: safe
NOAEL: 25 mg/kg bw/day (not specified)
Max Concentration: 0.2% in leave-on

osmetic products? In light of the data provided, the SCCS considers o-Phenylphenol safe when used as preservative up to a maximum concentration of 0.2 % in rinse-off and 0.15 % in leave- on cosmetic products. O-Phenylphenol and Sodium o-Phenylphenate, when used together: โ€ข should no

sccs SCCS/1669/24 25 October 2024
Verdict: safe
NOAEL: 25 mg/kg bw/day (not specified)
Max Concentration: 0.15% in leave-on

osmetic products? In light of the data provided, the SCCS considers o-Phenylphenol safe when used as preservative up to a maximum concentration of 0.2 % in rinse-off and 0.15 % in leave- on cosmetic products. O-Phenylphenol and Sodium o-Phenylphenate, when used together: โ€ข should no

sccs SCCS/1669/24 25 October 2024
Verdict: safe
NOAEL: 39 mg/kg bw/day (not specified)
Max Concentration: 0.2% in rinse-off

osmetic products? In light of the data provided, the SCCS considers o-Phenylphenol safe when used as preservative up to a maximum concentration of 0.2 % in rinse-off and 0.15 % in leave- on cosmetic products. O-Phenylphenol and Sodium o-Phenylphenate, when used together: โ€ข should no

sccs SCCS/1669/24 25 October 2024
Verdict: safe
NOAEL: 39 mg/kg bw/day (not specified)
Max Concentration: 0.2% in leave-on

osmetic products? In light of the data provided, the SCCS considers o-Phenylphenol safe when used as preservative up to a maximum concentration of 0.2 % in rinse-off and 0.15 % in leave- on cosmetic products. O-Phenylphenol and Sodium o-Phenylphenate, when used together: โ€ข should no

Expert Verdict

O-PHENYLPHENOL is listed in the EU CosIng database with functions: Preservative It is restricted under EU Cosmetics Regulation. Restriction: V/7 The use of o-phenylphenol as a preservative should be allowed with a maximum concentration of 0,15 % (as phenol) in leave-on and 0,2 % (as phenol) in rinse-off cosmetic products. Contact with eyes should be avoided. The use of sodium o-phenylphenate, potassium o-phenylphenate and MEA o-phenylphenate as preservatives should not be allowed..

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Concern Level: Medium

Regulatory Flags

cosing-sourced eu-restricted preservative needs-enrichment endocrine_disruptor prop65 fda_food_additive eu_cosing_listed

Frequently Asked Questions

Is O-PHENYLPHENOL safe in cosmetics?

O-PHENYLPHENOL is listed in the EU CosIng database with functions: Preservative It is restricted under EU Cosmetics Regulation. Restriction: V/7 The use of o-phenylphenol as a preservative should be allowed with a maximum concentration of 0,15 % (as phenol) in leave-on and 0,2 % (as phenol) in rinse-off cosmetic products. Contact with eyes should be avoided. The use of sodium o-phenylphenate, potassium o-phenylphenate and MEA o-phenylphenate as preservatives should not be allowed.. The EU classifies O-PHENYLPHENOL as "Restricted". Safety rating: MODERATE. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database. This ingredient has been reviewed by sccs.

Is O-PHENYLPHENOL allowed in the EU?

O-PHENYLPHENOL EU regulatory status: Restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: V/7 The use of o-phenylphenol as a preservative should be allowed with a maximum concentration of 0,15 % (as phenol) in leave-on and 0,2 % (as phenol) in rinse-off cosmetic products. Contact with eyes should be avoided. The use of sodium o-phenylphenate, potassium o-phenylphenate and MEA o-phenylphenate as preservatives should not be allowed.. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does O-PHENYLPHENOL do in cosmetics?

O-PHENYLPHENOL functions as: Preservative. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 90-43-7.

What is the Margin of Safety for O-PHENYLPHENOL?

NOAEL: 25 mg/kg bw/day | Source: SCCS/1669/24 | Study: developmental tox rabbit 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.

What is the NOAEL for O-PHENYLPHENOL?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for O-PHENYLPHENOL is 39 mg/kg bw/day based on a oral study via oral route in rat. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: REACH.

Is O-PHENYLPHENOL classified as hazardous under GHS?

O-PHENYLPHENOL carries a GHS signal word of "WARNING". Hazard statements: May be harmful if swallowed Causes skin irritation Causes serious eye irritation May cause respiratory irritation Very toxic to aquatic life. This classification is based on the ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Card and ECHA C&L inventory data. Note: GHS classification applies to the pure substance โ€” at cosmetic use concentrations, hazard thresholds may not be met.

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