The Cosmetic Products (Restriction of Chemical Substances) (No. 2) Regulations 2025

Made: 17th July 2025

Laid before Parliament: 21st July 2025

Coming into force: 21st January 2026

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 31(1)(b) and 32(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products[^f00001] (“the Regulation”).

In accordance with Article 31(1)(b) of the Regulation, the Secretary of State considers there is sufficient scientific evidence that there is a potential risk to human health arising from the use of 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone/Oxybenzone in a cosmetic product.

Citation, commencement, extent and interpretation

1

• (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Cosmetic Products (Restriction of Chemical Substances) (No. 2) Regulations 2025.

• (2) These Regulations come into force on 21st January 2026.

• (3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland.

• (4) In these Regulations “the Cosmetic Regulation” means Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products.

Amendments to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009

2

In the Cosmetic Regulation, in the table in Annex 6 (list of UV filters allowed in cosmetic products), at reference number 4 (2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone/Oxybenzone)—

• (a) in column f (product type, body parts) insert—

Product types— 1. skin products, other than those listed in paragraph (b), including all propellant and pump spray skin products; 2. face products, hand products and lip products (excluding propellant and pump spray face products, hand products and lip products); 3. all other cosmetic products.

• (b) for the text in column g (maximum concentration in ready for use preparation) substitute—

For product types— 1. 2.2%; 2. 6%; 3. 0.5%.

• (c) for the text in column h (other) substitute—

For product types (a) and (b), not to be used at more than 0.5% to protect product formulation. If used at 0.5% to protect product formulation, the levels used as UV filter must not exceed, for product types— 1. 1.7%; 2. 5.5%.

Transitional Provision

3

• (1) Despite the amendments made to Annex 6 of the Cosmetic Regulation by these Regulations, where paragraph (2) applies, a cosmetic product may continue to be made available on the market until the end of 21st July 2026.

• (2) This paragraph applies where the cosmetic product—

• (a) is placed on the market before 21st January 2026; and

• (b) complies with the requirements of the Cosmetic Regulation as it has effect before 21st January 2026.

Signed

Justin Madders — Parliamentary Under Secretary of State — Department for Business and Trade — 17th July 2025

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Explanatory Note

These Regulations amend Annex 6 to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (the Cosmetic Regulation) to amend the conditions on the use of 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone/Oxybenzone (known as benzophenone-3) in cosmetic products, to ensure that different types of cosmetic products contain safe levels of benzophenone-3, in accordance with advice from the Scientific Advisory Group on Chemical Safety of Non-Food and Non-Medicinal Consumer Products.

Regulation 3 provides for transitional arrangements for cosmetic products containing benzophenone-3. Where a cosmetic product is placed on the market before 21st January 2026 and complies with the requirements of the Cosmetic Regulation as it has effect before 21st January 2026, it may continue to be made available on the market until the end of 21st July 2026.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or business sectors is foreseen. An Explanatory Memorandum is published alongside these Regulations on www.legislation.gov.uk.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: EUR 2009/1223, amended by S.I. 2023/836; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.