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Annex II Entry 47 CMR28/10/2010

Benzene

Benzene is listed in Annex II as a prohibited substance for cosmetic products placed on the EU market.

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Prohibited substance— Annex II, EU Regulation 1223/2009
Entry: 47
CMR

Chemical identity and properties

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 71-43-2
CAS 71-43-2PubChem CID 241

Benzene

Benzene is a six-carbon aromatic annulene in which each carbon atom donates one of its two 2p electrons into a delocalised system. A toxic, flammable liquid byproduct of coal distillation, it is used as an industrial solvent. Benzene is a carcinogen that also damages bone marrow and the central nervous system. It has a role as a non-polar solvent, a carcinogenic agent and an environmental contaminant. It is a volatile organic compound, a member of benzenes and an aromatic annulene. — ChEBI

IUPAC name
benzene
Molecular formula
C6H6
Molecular weight
78.11 g/mol
Exact mass
78.0469501914 Da
XLogP3
2.1
Topological polar surface area
0.0 Ų
Hydrogen-bond donors
0
Hydrogen-bond acceptors
0
Covalent units
1
Defined stereocentres
0

Also known as

benzolCyclohexatrienebenzolePyrobenzoleBenzineCoal naphthaPyrobenzolBenzen
16 more reported names
PhenePhenyl hydrideMineral naphthaBenzoleneBicarburet of hydrogenMotor benzolBenzeenBenzoloFenzen(6)Annulene[6]AnnuleneNitration benzeneBenzol 90NCI-C552761,3,5-cyclohexatrieneBenzine (Obs.)
Open full PubChem recordPubChem annotations3D structure image
External database identifiers

Retrieved from NIH PubChem on 2026-08-31 by checksum-valid CAS matching. Chemical properties do not replace the regulatory decision on this page.

Record details

Chemical name

Benzene

Regulatory information

Regulation

(EC) 2009/1223

See every entry this act set

Other directives

(EC) 2009/552 - as a constituent of other substances, or in mixtures, in concentrations equal to, or greater than 0.1% by weight

CMR

CategoryCarcinogenicMutagenicReprotoxic
Cat. 1A✓——
Cat. 1B—✓—

Key data

CAS
71-43-2
EC
200-753-7
Annex
II
Entry number
47

Direct matches are limited for this record, so nearby entries from Annex II are shown as well.

What Annex II means for Benzene

Benzene is listed as a prohibited substance under Annex II of EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009 and must not be intentionally added. Article 17 separately addresses unintended small quantities that are technically unavoidable under good manufacturing practice and compatible with the Article 3 safety requirement.

Formulators must screen their ingredients and raw materials to ensure none contain this substance. Suppliers should provide documentation confirming absence when requested.

The page also surfaces 12 related annex records with overlapping identifiers, annex logic or naming patterns.

Compliance checklist

  • Verify this substance is absent from all raw materials and finished formulations.
  • Request absence confirmation or CoA from raw material suppliers.
  • Document the screening result in the Product Information File (PIF).
  • This substance has CMR classification. Review the CMR table above and verify current Annex II/III status before use.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Benzene is listed in Annex II of EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009 and is prohibited as an intentionally added cosmetic ingredient. Article 17 provides a narrow exception for unintended small quantities that are technically unavoidable under good manufacturing practice, provided the product remains safe under Article 3.

CAS 71-43-2 is the unique numerical identifier assigned to Benzene by the Chemical Abstracts Service. In cosmetic compliance work, the CAS number is used to cross-reference the substance across regulatory databases, raw material specifications and safety assessment reports. Multiple EU annex entries may share the same CAS number if the same substance appears under different conditions or in different annexes.

Benzene has a CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic) classification under EU CLP Regulation. Under Article 15 of EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009, CMR substances of category 1A or 1B are prohibited in cosmetics unless specifically permitted. Category 2 CMR substances may be used only if assessed safe by the SCCS. Always verify current annex status and any applicable derogations before use.

Use the INCI Checker tool on this site to paste your full ingredient list (INCI) and scan it against all Annex II–VI entries. The tool highlights any ingredients that match restricted, prohibited or allergen-flagged records. This is useful for rapid compliance screening of finished product formulas or raw material declarations.
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Source note for Annex II record Benzene

This page summarizes one Annex II record for Benzene from public European Commission cosmetic materials and adds linked inventory or identifier matches when available.

Use this record page to review Annex II conditions for Benzene, but confirm any final regulatory decision against the current official annex wording and source files.

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