- beauty
- cleaning
- food
- industrial
2-Phenylphenol
CAS 90-43-7 · 40/100 · High conf.
Also registered as 4 other CAS numbers
73829-47-7 · 39387-78-5 · 192076-92-9 · 132-27-4
Concern score
40/100Moderate concern based on regulatory listings.
High confidence
2-Phenylphenol in plain language
On cosmetic ingredient lists it appears as “MEA o-phenylphenate”.
Also known as MEA o-phenylphenate · O-phenylphenol · Potassium o-phenylphenate · Sodium o-phenylphenate · Sodium o-Phenylphenate o-Phenylphenol · Orthophenylphenol
Show all 35 names
Ortho-phenylphenol · (1,1'-Biphenyl)-2-ol · 2-BIPHENYLOL · Orthoxenol · Orthophenyl phenol (e 231) · Ortofenilfenol · 2-Hydroxy-1,1'-biphenyl · 2-Hydroxybiphenyl · 2-Hydroxydiphenyl · 2-phenylphenol (sara iii) · 2-phenylphenol (sara 313) · Anthrapole 73 · Biphenyl-2-ol · Dowicide 1 · Nectryl · Orthohydroxydiphenyl · Phenylphenol, o- · Preventol o extra · Sodium 2-biphenylate · Torsite · Tumescal OPE · bifenil-2-ol · o-Biphenylol · o-Diphenylol · o-Hydroxybiphenyl · o-Hydroxydiphenyl · o-Xenol · o-phenyl phenol · ortho phenyl phenol
Used in cosmetics as a preservative and an antimicrobial. o-Phenylphenol is the substituted aromatic compound.
- Preservative
- Antimicrobial
- Surfactant
- Moderate concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.
What the listings say
Permitted, with conditions — 2-Phenylphenol appears on published "allowed" regulatory lists rather than on a restriction list.
Biphenyl-2-ol; 2-phenylphenol; 2-hydroxybiphenyl, Sodium 2-biphenylate is listed in Annex V of the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 (preservatives allowed in cosmetic products).
The score describes this ingredient's chemical identity — its hazard profile from published classifications and regulatory status — not the safety of any product it appears in.
Regulation
No restrictions found. 2-Phenylphenol appears in these published regulatory listings.
- EU Annex V — permitted preservative
- EU permitted preservative
- Found in consumer products
- Beauty
- Cleaning
- Industrial
EUCosIngActive3 entries
- o-Phenylphenol is the substituted aromatic compound that conforms to the formula: Restriction: V/7 The use of o-phenylphenol as a preservative should be allowed with a maximum concentration of 0,15 % (as phenol) in leave-on and 0,2 % (as phenol) in rinse-off cosmetic products. Contact with eyes should be avoided. The use of sodium o-phenylphenate, potassium o-phenylphenate and MEA o-phenylphenate as preservatives should not be allowed.Source →
- Sodium o-Phenylphenate is the sodium salt of o-phenylphenol that conforms to the formula:Source →
- Cosmetics Regulation annex V / ref 7.Source →
EUECallowed_listedAnnex V of EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009: preservatives allowed in cosmetic products. Product types: (a) Rinse-off products (b) Leave-on products Maximum concentration: (a) 0,2 % (as phenol (b) 0,15 % (as phenol) Other conditions: When o-Phenylphenol and Sodium o-Phenylphenate are used together, the combined concentration (as phenol) shall not exceed 0,2 % in rinse-off and 0,15 % in leave-on products. Not to be used in applications that may lead to exposure of the end-user’s lungs by inhalation. Not to be used in oral products. Conditions of use and warnings: Avoid contact with eyes.
- Annex V of EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009: preservatives allowed in cosmetic products. Product types: (a) Rinse-off products (b) Leave-on products Maximum concentration: (a) 0,2 % (as phenol (b) 0,15 % (as phenol) Other conditions: When o-Phenylphenol and Sodium o-Phenylphenate are used together, the combined concentration (as phenol) shall not exceed 0,2 % in rinse-off and 0,15 % in leave-on products. Not to be used in applications that may lead to exposure of the end-user’s lungs by inhalation. Not to be used in oral products. Conditions of use and warnings: Avoid contact with eyes.Source →
EUEFSAConclusion on Pesticides Peer ReviewPeer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance 2-phenylphenol (EFSA)
- Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance 2-phenylphenol (EFSA)Source →
GLOBALJECFA0-0.4 mg/kg bw (1999)JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-0.4 mg/kg bw (1999). Functional class: preservative.
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-0.4 mg/kg bw (1999). Functional class: preservative.Source →
USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 161 composition records across product categories including Cleaning products and household care, Cleaning and safety, Personal care. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Biocide, Preservative, Surfactant (surface active agent).
- EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 161 composition records across product categories including Cleaning products and household care, Cleaning and safety, Personal care. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Biocide, Preservative, Surfactant (surface active agent).Source →
USFDAlisted in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.
- openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.Source →
Expert safety opinions
Independent scientific assessments cited by the records we hold, with the year and link where the record gives one.
SCCS
EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
No SCCS opinion on file.
CIR
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US expert panel)
No CIR safety assessment on file.
EFSA
European Food Safety Authority
Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance 2-phenylphenol (EFSA)
2009 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
JECFA
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
JECFA evaluation record.
Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →
JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-0.4 mg/kg bw (1999). Functional class: preservative.
Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →
JECFA evaluation record. Functional class: preservative.
Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →
Evidence & sources
No graded research studies for 2-Phenylphenol yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.
Where this comes from
- Open →
CosIng
regulatory · updated 2026-09-23
- Open →
EU CosIng Cosmetics Regulation Annexes
regulatory · updated 2026-01-15
- Open →
EFSA OpenFoodTox
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
- Open →
EPA Chemical and Products Database
exposure · updated october 21, 2020
- Open →
EPA DSSTox Identifiers
chemistry · updated 2025-12-29
- Open →
FDA GSRS UNII
registry · updated 2026-02-26
- Open →
WHO JECFA Database
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
- Open →
openFDA Substance
registry · updated 2026-05-24
- Open →
PubChem Live Enrichment
chemistry · updated 2026-05-17
Reference links (1)
Suitability
Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.
Food use
Food-use source coverage is present in the current record.
The ingredient appears in food-oriented source coverage or allowed-use references, which makes food use easier to support than a context with no domain signal at all.
Fragrance avoidance
No fragrance-linked caution surfaced in the current profile.
This ingredient does not currently read as a fragrance-linked driver in the published evidence and hazard profile.
Where it has been recorded
How often EPA CPDat has listed 2-Phenylphenol in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.
Source records
161
Named organisations
6
Cleaning products and household careCleaning and safetyPersonal careLaboratory suppliesConstruction and building materialsIndustrial products
Typical roles
PreservativeAntimicrobialSurfactant
Found in these products
Their ingredient lists include 2-Phenylphenol; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.
