A sunscreen formulated for sale in Seoul cannot always be sold as-is in New York, Paris, or São Paulo. Each country maintains its own list of permitted UV filters, and the lists rarely match. A filter that is legal at 10% in one market may be banned in the next, or capped at 5%, or allowed only in specific product types.
We mapped UV filter approvals across 10 markets — the EU, Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, ASEAN, the US, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina — using a structured database of 21,796 cosmetic ingredients with 30,960 regulatory records. Below is what the data shows.
What every country agrees on
Two UV filters are approved in all 10 markets:
- Zinc Oxide — mineral filter, broad spectrum (UVA + UVB)
- Titanium Dioxide — mineral filter, UVB and partial UVA
These are the only filters with universal approval. Any formulation designed to sell identically across all 10 markets without reformulation must rely on these two ingredients. This is why most global brands lead with mineral sunscreens for export.
Maximum concentrations also differ. The US permits 25% for both. Other markets vary, generally between 10–25%.
Where the maps diverge
Five UV filters are approved across most of the 10 markets but not in the US. Three are approved in most markets but not in the US or Canada. This is the cluster of modern filters that define the difference in texture, photostability, and UVA coverage between markets with and without FDA jurisdiction.
Tinosorb S (Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine)
| Market | Status | Max |
|---|---|---|
| EU | Permitted | 10% |
| Korea | Permitted | 10% |
| Japan | Permitted | 3% |
| China | Permitted | 10% |
| Taiwan | Permitted | 10% |
| Brazil | Permitted | 10% |
| Argentina | Permitted | 10% |
| US | Under FDA review | — |
Tinosorb S has been under FDA review for nearly two decades. A decision is possible in 2026. If approved, it would be the first UV filter added to the US monograph since 1999.
Tinosorb M (Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol)
| Market | Status | Max |
|---|---|---|
| EU | Permitted | 10% |
| Korea | Permitted | 10% |
| Japan | Permitted | 10% |
| China | Permitted | 10% |
| Taiwan | Permitted | 10% |
| ASEAN | Permitted | 10% |
| Brazil | Permitted | 10% |
| Argentina | Permitted | 10% |
| US | Not approved | — |
| Canada | Not approved | — |
Eight of 10 markets permit Tinosorb M at 10%. The US and Canada do not approve it.
Uvinul A Plus (Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate)
| Market | Status | Max |
|---|---|---|
| EU | Permitted | 10% |
| Korea | Permitted | 10% |
| Japan | Permitted | 10% |
| China | Permitted | 10% |
| Taiwan | Permitted | 10% |
| ASEAN | Permitted | 10% |
| US | Not approved | — |
| Canada | Not approved | — |
Uvinul T 150 (Ethylhexyl Triazone)
| Market | Status | Max |
|---|---|---|
| EU | Permitted | 5% |
| Korea | Permitted | 5% |
| Japan | Permitted | 5% |
| China | Permitted | 5% |
| Taiwan | Permitted | 5% |
| ASEAN | Permitted | 5% |
| US | Not approved | — |
| Canada | Not approved | — |
Uvinul T 150 shows the tightest international agreement on concentration. Every market that approves it caps at 5%. The US and Canada do not approve it.
Mexoryl XL (Drometrizole Trisiloxane)
| Market | Status | Max |
|---|---|---|
| EU | Permitted | 15% |
| Korea | Permitted | 15% |
| Japan | Permitted | 15% |
| China | Permitted | 15% |
| Canada | Permitted | 15% |
| Taiwan | Permitted | 15% |
| ASEAN | Permitted | 15% |
| Brazil | Permitted | 15% |
| US | Not approved | — |
Mexoryl XL is permitted in 8 of the 10 markets at 15%. The US does not approve it. Argentina's status is unconfirmed in our database.
When "banned" is not actually banned
Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3) is often described online as banned in Korea or Japan over safety concerns. The data contradicts this. Oxybenzone is permitted in every market we examined. What differs is the concentration limit and labeling requirements.
| Market | Max | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| China | 10% | Label warning required |
| Brazil | 10% | Warning required above 0.5% |
| Argentina | 10% | Warning required above 0.5% |
| US | 6% | — |
| Canada | 6% | — |
| Taiwan | 6% | — |
| ASEAN | 6% | Label warning required |
| EU | 6% (face) / 2.2% (body) / 0.5% (other) | Limit varies by product type |
| Japan | 5% (leave-on) | — |
| Korea | 5% | — |
The most restrictive market on oxybenzone is the EU, which splits the limit across product categories. A face cream with SPF can contain up to 6% oxybenzone in the EU; a body spray is capped at 2.2%. Korea and Japan sit at 5%. The US permits up to 6%.
The online narrative that Korea banned oxybenzone does not match the regulatory record.
When "permitted" comes with conditions
Homosalate is permitted in all 10 markets, but the conditions vary.
| Market | Max | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| US | 15% | — |
| Canada | 15% | — |
| Brazil | 15% | — |
| Argentina | 15% | — |
| Taiwan | 10% | Labeled as UV filter |
| China | 10% | — |
| Japan | 10% | All cosmetic types |
| Korea | 10% | — |
| ASEAN | 10% | — |
| EU | 7.34% or lower | Face products only, with detailed conditions |
The EU restricts homosalate to face products and caps it at 7.34%, while the US and Canada allow it at 15% with no product-type restrictions. This is a 2-fold difference in concentration ceiling between the most and least permissive markets.
Octocrylene follows a similar pattern: permitted everywhere at 10%, but the EU splits limits by product type (9% for propellant sprays, 10% for other products).
The four tiers of filter access
Based on the regulatory data, the 10 markets fall into four tiers of UV filter availability.
Tier 1 — Broad modern access (EU, Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan) All five advanced filters (Tinosorb S, Tinosorb M, Uvinul A Plus, Uvinul T 150, Mexoryl XL) are approved. Formulators can combine multiple modern filters to achieve high SPF and UVA ratings with lower total filter load.
Tier 2 — Partial modern access (ASEAN, Brazil, Argentina) Most modern filters are approved, but some gaps exist relative to Tier 1. ASEAN permits four of the five advanced filters (Tinosorb S status unconfirmed).
Tier 3 — Modern access with gaps (Canada) Approves Mexoryl XL but not Tinosorb M, Uvinul A Plus, or Uvinul T 150.
Tier 4 — Pre-1999 filter list only (US) The FDA has not approved a new chemical UV filter since 1999. The list of 16 approved filters under 21 CFR 352.10 has remained unchanged. Bemotrizinol (Tinosorb S) is under review.
Rating systems also differ
SPF ceiling. The FDA caps SPF labeling at "30+" under 21 CFR 352.50. Korea and Japan permit labeling up to SPF 50+.
UVA rating. The US uses "Broad Spectrum" as a binary label. Korea and Japan use the PA system:
- PA+ — some UVA protection
- PA++ — moderate UVA protection
- PA+++ — high UVA protection
- PA++++ — very high UVA protection
The PA system is based on the Persistent Pigment Darkening (PPD) test. The EU uses a different UVA-PF system with proportionality rules.
Regulatory classification. Korea classifies sunscreens as functional cosmetics (기능성화장품) requiring pre-market MFDS approval. The EU classifies them as cosmetics. The US classifies them as over-the-counter drugs, which triggers the GRASE ("generally recognized as safe and effective") review process for new ingredients.
Why the classification matters
New UV filter approval timelines vary significantly across jurisdictions.
- Korea (MFDS): 4–6 months after clinical and efficacy data submission
- EU (SCCS): comparable to Korea
- US (FDA GRASE): 10+ years of pre-submission testing, followed by 2–3 years of FDA review
The US timeline is not a matter of stricter safety standards. Each jurisdiction conducts its own safety evaluation. The difference is the regulatory pathway. Drug classification in the US subjects new sunscreen ingredients to a review process designed for systemic pharmaceuticals, which is not how other markets regulate topical UV filters.
Regulatory Data Summary
| Filter | EU | Korea | Japan | China | Taiwan | ASEAN | Brazil | Argentina | Canada | US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc Oxide | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Titanium Dioxide | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Avobenzone | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Octocrylene | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Homosalate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Oxybenzone | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tinosorb S | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ | — | Under review |
| Tinosorb M | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Uvinul A Plus | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | ✗ | ✗ |
| Uvinul T 150 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mexoryl XL | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✗ |
Methodology and Sources
UV filter regulatory status was cross-referenced against a database of 21,796 cosmetic ingredients with 30,960 regulatory records covering 10 countries. Each filter's status and maximum concentration was verified against the current regulations of each market.
- EU: Cosmetics Regulation EC 1223/2009, Annex VI (UV Filters)
- Korea: MFDS Cosmetic Ingredient Standards (기능성화장품 자외선차단제 고시)
- Japan: MHLW Standards for Cosmetics
- US: FDA OTC Sunscreen Monograph (21 CFR 352.10)
- Others: National cosmetic regulations of China, Taiwan, ASEAN, Brazil, Argentina, Canada
The database is available as an API at K-Beauty Cosmetic Ingredients on RapidAPI.
Important Notice: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not legal, regulatory, or medical advice. Cosmetic regulations change frequently — always verify current status against official sources before making business or personal decisions. For full terms, see our Disclaimer.
Decoded Korea publishes data-driven analysis of Korean cosmetic ingredients, chemical regulations, and safety data.
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