On September 3, 2021, ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) opened a consultation on proposals for the identification as SVHC (substances of very high concern) of two ingredients used in cosmetic products: a UV filter, 4-MBC (4-Methylbenzylidene camphor) and an antioxidant, DBMC (Methylene di-t-butylcresol). Both consultations are open until October 18, 2021.
Substances that may have serious and often irreversible effects on human health and the environment can be identified as substances of very high concern (SVHCs), ECHA recalls. If a substance is identified as an SVHC, it will be added to the Candidate List for eventual inclusion in the Authorisation List.
Member States or the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), on request of the European Commission, may propose a substance to be identified as an SVHC by preparing a dossier in accordance with the requirements set out in Annex XV to REACH.
It is in this framework that the Agency has therefore just opened the public consultations on the proposals from Denmark for the identification of 4-MBC and DBM as SVHCs.
4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor
The substance (±)-1,7,7-trimethyl-3-[(4-methylphenyl)methylene]bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one covering any of the individual isomers and/or combinations thereof (in cosmetics: 4-MBC; CAS: 36861-47-9 / 38102-62-4; EC: 253-242-6; INCI: 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor) is currently listed in Annex VI (list of authorised UV-filters) o Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009 in entry 18.
Denmark proposes to identify the substance as a substance of very high concern according to Article 57(f) of the REACH Regulation due to its endocrine disrupting properties.
4-MBC is already on the list established by the European Commission …
