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4 -Aminobenzoic acid and its esters, with the free amino group

CAS 150-13-0 · EC 205-753-0

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What it is + why it's regulated

4-Aminobenzoic acid, also known as PABA, and its esters are a group of chemical compounds that were once used in sunscreens and other cosmetics to absorb ultraviolet light. However, the European Union has banned these substances from all cosmetic products under Annex II of the EU Cosmetics Regulation. This ban exists because regulators determined that PABA and its esters can cause allergic skin reactions and may pose other health risks when absorbed through the skin. The European Chemicals Agency and the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety have evaluated these compounds and found them unsafe for use in cosmetics. You will not find PABA in sunscreens or beauty products sold in the EU today. This summary draws on public regulatory data; the linked source is authoritative. Source: EU CosIng database (https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/).

Regulation: (EC) No 344/2013

Authoritative source

Issuing body: EU Cosmetic Regulation Annex II (banned in cosmetics)
Primary register: https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/

Always verify each fact at the primary register before acting on it.

What this is NOT

ProductGuru is an INDEX of public regulatory data, not a primary source. This page is not medical, occupational-health, or legal advice. Every claim above is drawn from the issuing-agency register linked. Inclusion in our index is not endorsement, condemnation, or hazard assessment.

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