Two Benzophenones, Two 2025 Verdicts: EU Clears BP-5 but Not BP-2
The EU's June 2025 ruling split two near-identically named filters into opposite verdicts — and shows why "benzophenones are bad" is the wrong takeaway.
In opinion SCCS/1679/25, adopted 26 June 2025, the SCCS judged Benzophenone-5 safe as a UV filter at concentrations up to 5%, while for Benzophenone-2 it could not conclude on safety because a genotoxicity potential could not be excluded and the toxicity data were insufficient.
EU regulatory scientists stress that a "cannot conclude" finding reflects gaps in the safety dossier rather than evidence of harm, and that each UV-related substance is evaluated on its own merits, not as a chemical family.
Questions we get a lot
Did the EU ban Benzophenone-2 in 2025?
No. The SCCS did not ban Benzophenone-2; it concluded it could not reach a safety determination because a genotoxicity potential could not be excluded and the toxicity data were insufficient. That "unconcludable" status typically prompts requests for more data rather than an immediate market ban. Any binding restriction would come later through the European Commission, not the SCCS opinion itself.
Is Benzophenone-5 safe in my sunscreen or skincare?
In its June 2025 opinion the SCCS judged Benzophenone-5 safe for use as a UV filter at concentrations up to 5%. That conclusion applies to the assessed conditions of use. Benzophenone-5 is also frequently used at low levels to protect a formula's color and fragrance, which is well within the assessed range.
Why did two filters with almost the same name get opposite verdicts?
Despite sharing the "benzophenone" prefix, BP-2 and BP-5 are chemically distinct molecules with different toxicology dossiers. The SCCS evaluates each substance separately against its own data, so one can clear review while another stalls for missing information. This is exactly why grouping a whole chemical family as uniformly "safe" or "bad" misleads shoppers.
r/SkincareAddiction: "My toner lists benzophenone-5 — is that the same scary ingredient I keep seeing flagged online?"