The French Agency Afssaps has decided, on August 24, to ban this product. Considering that this UV filter is able "to disrupt endocrine functions and may be a serious danger for the human health" due to its presence in cosmetics, the Agency bans 3-Benzylidene-Camphor in France.
August 30, 2011
3-Benzylidene-Camphor was already classified as "unsafe" by CosmeticOBS-L’Observatoire des Cosmétiques (see the "
Anti-UV Filters and Sunscreens
" article). Already almost left aside by the industry, this anti-UVB filter may still be found in some
cosmetic products
, especially sunscreens.
The
Afssaps
had initiated a study on the safety of use of 3-Benzylidene-Camphor. Its conclusions had been validated by the Commission of Cometology on March 15, 2011.
This study shows, after in vitro and in vivo tests, that this substance acts as an
endocrine disruptor
, mainly by modifying reproduction organs.
The
Afssaps
concludes that 3-Benzylidene-Camphor is able to disrupt endocrine functions, to have detrimental effects on fertility, and that it is a serious danger for the human health, as per the L.5312-1 article of the French Code for Public Health.
As a consequence, it has decided, on August 24, 2011, to ban the manufacture, the import, the export, the marketing, the owning and the use of cosmetic products containing 3-Benzylidene-Camphor.
Thus, manufacturers, importers, companies in charge of marketing and retailers shall take all the suitable measures to stop immediately selling these products in France, while waiting for possibly similar measures on the European level.
We give …
