Ingredient Index · E216

Is Propylparaben banned in Europe?

Restricted in EU

No: propylparaben is restricted, not banned, in the EU. A 2014 reform cut its cap from 0.4% to 0.14% and barred it from leave-on products for the nappy area of children under three. The US sets no concentration limit.

E-number: E216CAS: 94-13-3 Also seen as: Propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, E216, Nipasol, Propyl paraben

What the EU does

Restricted, not banned. Propylparaben is still a permitted preservative on Annex V, but the EU tightened the rules around it in 2014. Commission Regulation (EU) No 358/2014 cut the maximum for propylparaben and butylparaben from the old 0.4% down to 0.14%, whether used alone or together, as a precaution while the endocrine science was unsettled.

A second measure that year, Commission Regulation (EU) No 1004/2014, went further for one product type: it banned propylparaben and butylparaben from leave-on products designed for the nappy area of children under three years old, on the reasoning that broken or irritated skin in that area could raise absorption in the most vulnerable group. So the honest summary is a capped-and-carved-out permission, not a prohibition.

Citation Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex V; Commission Regulation (EU) No 358/2014 (0.14% cap); Commission Regulation (EU) No 1004/2014 (nappy-area leave-on ban, under-3s)

What the US does

Permitted, with no specific limit. The FDA allows propylparaben in cosmetics and recognized it for food use historically. There is no US equivalent of the EU's 0.14% cap or the nappy-area restriction, so a US product can legally contain more propylparaben than an EU-compliant one, and can use it in baby products the EU would not.

This is a textbook restriction story rather than a ban story. Both regions allow propylparaben. The EU has drawn explicit lines around how much and where, tied to a precautionary read of the endocrine data, while the US leaves the level to the formulator.

Citation FDA: parabens in cosmetics (no specific limit)

Products that commonly contain it

Propylparaben is a longer-chain paraben used to preserve water-based products, often paired with methylparaben. Look for it in:

Moisturizers, serums, and lotions
Shampoos, conditioners, and styling products
Foundations, concealers, and other color cosmetics
Some older or imported baby products (restricted in the EU)

What to look for on a label

On a label, watch for:

"Propylparaben" or "Propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate"
"E216" on food products
An EU-compliant product keeps propyl- plus butylparaben at 0.14% or less
Propylparaben in a leave-on diaper-area baby product signals a non-EU formulation

Or skip the squinting: paste the whole ingredient list into our checker and it flags everything in our database. Nothing you paste leaves your browser.

Frequently asked questions

Is propylparaben banned in Europe?

No. It is restricted, not banned. Since Commission Regulation (EU) No 358/2014, propylparaben (with butylparaben) is capped at 0.14%, and it is barred from leave-on nappy-area products for children under three under Regulation (EU) No 1004/2014.

Why did the EU tighten propylparaben rules?

As a precaution over possible endocrine effects, the EU lowered the cap from 0.4% to 0.14% in 2014 and restricted use in baby diaper-area leave-on products, where absorption could be higher.

Is propylparaben allowed in the United States?

Yes. The FDA permits it in cosmetics with no specific concentration limit, so US products may contain more than an EU-compliant formula.

How do I know if a product is EU-compliant?

An EU-compliant product keeps propylparaben plus butylparaben at 0.14% or less and does not use them in leave-on products for the nappy area of under-threes.

Related ingredients

Primary sources

Last reviewed July 1, 2026 · How we assign statuses