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Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
Executive Summary
1. General data
1.1 Identity of the ingredient : 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulphonic acid
1.2 CAS n° :
1.3 Use : sunscreen formulations at a maximum concentration of 5%, expressed as acid
2. Terms of reference
2.1 Context of the question
The adaptation to technical progress of the Annexes to Council Directive 76/768/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products.
Request for inclusion of S40 in Annex VII, part 1 - List of UV filters which Cosmetic Products may contain - to Council Directive 76/768/EEC.
2.2 Request to the SCCNFP
The SCCNFP is requested to answer the following questions :
* Is 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulphonic acid safe for use in cosmetic products?
* Does the SCCNFP propose any restrictions or conditions for its use in cosmetic products?
3. Toxicological Evaluation & Characterisation
3.1 Acute toxicity (dermal, oral, i.v., i.p.) : Low acute toxicity
3.2 Sub-chronic toxicity : No abnormal clinical findings. Very reasonable NOAEL
3.3 Percutaneous absorption : About 1.17 %
3.4 Irritation, mucous membrane and skin : No evidence of irritation at 5%
3.5 Sensitisation : No evidence of sensitisation in man at 5 %
3.6 Photo-irritation, photo-sensitisation : Little or no reaction to the active ingredient at 5%
3.7 Mutagenicity : No evidence of clastogenic activity
3.8 Photo-mutagenicity : No evidence of photo-mutagenic potential
4. Opinion of the SCCNFP
The SCCNFP is of the opinion that 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulphonic acid can be used safely in cosmetic sunscreen formulations at a maximum concentration of 5%, expressed as acid.
The SCCNFP proposes no further restrictions or conditions for its use in cosmetic products.
5. Statement on the toxicological evaluation
The SCCNFP is the scientific advisory body to the European Commission in matters of consumer protection with respect to cosmetics and non-food products intended for consumers.
The Commission's general policy regarding research on animals supports the development of alternative methods to replace or to reduce animal testing when possible. In this context, the SCCNFP has a specific working group on alternatives to animal testing which, in co-operation with other Commission services such as ECVAM (European Centre for Validation of Alternative Methods), evaluates these methods.
SCCNFP opinions include evaluations of experiments using laboratory animals; such tests are conducted in accordance with all legal provisions and preferably under chemical law regulations. Only in cases where no alternative method is available will such tests be evaluated and the resulting data accepted, in order to meet the fundamental requirements of the protection of consumer health.
1. General data
1.1 Identity of the ingredient : 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulphonic acid
1.2 CAS n° :
1.3 Use : sunscreen formulations at a maximum concentration of 5%, expressed as acid
2. Terms of reference
2.1 Context of the question
The adaptation to technical progress of the Annexes to Council Directive 76/768/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products.
Request for inclusion of S40 in Annex VII, part 1 - List of UV filters which Cosmetic Products may contain - to Council Directive 76/768/EEC.
2.2 Request to the SCCNFP
The SCCNFP is requested to answer the following questions :
* Is 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulphonic acid safe for use in cosmetic products?
* Does the SCCNFP propose any restrictions or conditions for its use in cosmetic products?
3. Toxicological Evaluation & Characterisation
3.1 Acute toxicity (dermal, oral, i.v., i.p.) : Low acute toxicity
3.2 Sub-chronic toxicity : No abnormal clinical findings. Very reasonable NOAEL
3.3 Percutaneous absorption : About 1.17 %
3.4 Irritation, mucous membrane and skin : No evidence of irritation at 5%
3.5 Sensitisation : No evidence of sensitisation in man at 5 %
3.6 Photo-irritation, photo-sensitisation : Little or no reaction to the active ingredient at 5%
3.7 Mutagenicity : No evidence of clastogenic activity
3.8 Photo-mutagenicity : No evidence of photo-mutagenic potential
4. Opinion of the SCCNFP
The SCCNFP is of the opinion that 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulphonic acid can be used safely in cosmetic sunscreen formulations at a maximum concentration of 5%, expressed as acid.
The SCCNFP proposes no further restrictions or conditions for its use in cosmetic products.
5. Statement on the toxicological evaluation
The SCCNFP is the scientific advisory body to the European Commission in matters of consumer protection with respect to cosmetics and non-food products intended for consumers.
The Commission's general policy regarding research on animals supports the development of alternative methods to replace or to reduce animal testing when possible. In this context, the SCCNFP has a specific working group on alternatives to animal testing which, in co-operation with other Commission services such as ECVAM (European Centre for Validation of Alternative Methods), evaluates these methods.
SCCNFP opinions include evaluations of experiments using laboratory animals; such tests are conducted in accordance with all legal provisions and preferably under chemical law regulations. Only in cases where no alternative method is available will such tests be evaluated and the resulting data accepted, in order to meet the fundamental requirements of the protection of consumer health.
