4-METHYLBENZYLIDENE CAMPHOR
Official label name (INCIInternational name of cosmetic ingredients: the one printed on the pack. name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 339
- Prohibited in cosmetics (Annex II)
4-METHYLBENZYLIDENE CAMPHOR: Prohibited in cosmetics (Annex II, entry 1730), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Good to know: endocrine disruptor (ECHA list). Annexes of the Regulation consulted on 23 October 2026.
Who it concerns
This ingredient is prohibited in cosmetics in the European Union: what follows describes its hazards, not a permitted use.
What official classifications and rules say for each group. A classification describes the hazard of the pure substance, not the risk of a product that contains it, which depends on the dose and the exposure.
Prohibition or serious classificationThe text prohibits the substance for this use, or ranks it among the most serious hazards (known or presumed carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic, identified endocrine disruptor).Worth watchingThe text sets a condition or flags a hazard worth knowing: allergen, suspected effect, condition for children, hazard to the aquatic environment.For informationOfficial information with no condition on a finished product: warning to read, irritation of the pure substance.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Prohibition or serious classificationThe text prohibits the substance for this use, or ranks it among the most serious hazards (known or presumed carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic, identified endocrine disruptor).
Prohibition or serious classification ECHAEuropean Chemicals Agency. has included it in the Candidate List as an endocrine disruptor for human health.
For a question about your own situation, ask your doctor, midwife or pharmacist.
Babies and children
Prohibited in cosmetics in the European Union for everyone, whatever the age or situation: no specific condition is therefore needed for this group.
Skin, eyes and allergies
No harmonised classification for sensitisation, irritation or eye damage, and no obligation to label it as an allergen.
Environment
No harmonised classification as hazardous to the aquatic environment, and it is not on ECHA's Candidate List as an endocrine disruptor for the environment.
Read on the label
The Cosmetics Regulation requires no warning to be printed for this ingredient.
ECHA, Candidate List of substances of very high concern for authorisation (REACH), retrieved 23 October 2026, source updated 23 October 2026.
Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), Candidate List.
In plain words
What it is used for
Functions declared by manufacturers:
Light stabilizer.
UV absorber: protects the cosmetic product from the effects of UV light.
UV filter: filters certain UV rays in order to protect the skin or the hair from harmful effects of these rays.
Functions declared in the CosIngThe European Commission's database of cosmetic ingredients. inventory. CosIng, inventory of cosmetic ingredients (INCI names, CAS, EC, functions), retrieved 21 October 2026.
Definitions of functions (decision repealed on 8 May 2020, cited for information). Decision 2006/257/EC, inventory of cosmetic ingredients (definitions of functions), retrieved 22 October 2026.
What the rules say
It is prohibited to use it in a cosmetic product sold in the European Union, whatever the dose. If it appears on the ingredient list of a recent product, this needs checking: the record may be old or wrong, or the product intended for another market.
CosIng, Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (prohibited substances), retrieved 23 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
Hazard and risk
The European Union has identified it as an endocrine disruptor: a substance that alters the functioning of the hormonal system and causes adverse effects. This alone does not prohibit it in cosmetics: a legal text must add it to the annexes.
ECHA, Candidate List of substances of very high concern for authorisation (REACH), retrieved 23 October 2026, source updated 23 October 2026.
Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), Candidate List.
Origin and odour
Present in 0.0% of recorded cosmetics (11 out of 22 508), mainly: sunscreen, lip products.
Open Beauty Facts, export of cosmetic products, retrieved 23 October 2026.
Data “Open Beauty Facts and its contributors”, licensed under ODbL 1.0 (opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1-0); derived table distributed under the same licence.
The text of the annexes
Prohibited in cosmetics
CosIng links the name 4-METHYLBENZYLIDENE CAMPHOR to this Annex II entry.
- Entry
- Annex II, No 1730
- Substance
- 3-(4'-methylbenzylidene)-camphor; [INCI: 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor]
- CAS
- 36861-47-9/38102-62-4
- EC
- 253-242-6/-
Dates in the act (3)
- Entry into force on 24 April 2024
- Placing on the market from 1 May 2025
From 1 May 2025 products containing that substance shall not be placed on the Union market
- Making available from 1 May 2026
From 1 May 2026 cosmetic products containing that substance shall not be made available on the Union market’
Excerpts from the English text published in the Official Journal. A date may concern only some substances of the act: the excerpt says so.
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex II, entry 1730. CosIng, Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (prohibited substances), retrieved 23 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
Entry from Regulation (EU) 2024/996, adopted on 3 April 2024.
SCCSEU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety: it assesses cosmetic ingredients. opinions cited: Opinion on 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor; Opinion on 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor; Opinion on 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC),scientific opinion on 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC), preliminary version of 22 December, final version of 29 April 2022, SCCS/1640/21..
What has changed, and what will change
Dates of the texts that cover this ingredient. A text date may cover several substances: the details of each entry are below.
Included by ECHA in the Candidate List (endocrine disruptor)
Annex II, entry 1730: introduced or replaced by Regulation (EU) 2024/996
Annex II, entry 1730: a new product that does not comply can no longer be placed on the market
Annex II, entry 1730: a product that does not comply can no longer be sold, even from stock
Identity
- CosIng identifier
- 31529
- CAS (according to CosIng)
- 36861-47-9, 38102-62-4
- EC (according to CosIng)
- 253-242-6
- Declared functions
- Light stabilizer, UV absorber, UV filter
- Wikidata
- Q4637174
- ECHA InfoCard
- 100.048.386
CosIng cites 2 CAS numbers for this name: it covers several substances.
CosIng inventory. CosIng, inventory of cosmetic ingredients (INCI names, CAS, EC, functions), retrieved 21 October 2026.
Wikidata, items with a CosIng identifier (P3073), retrieved 22 October 2026.
Wikidata, PubChem and ECHA links are published only when verified: same CosIng identifier, a single item, matching CAS number.
Endocrine disruptor
These lists record an evaluation, not a prohibition: in cosmetics, a substance identified as an endocrine disruptor is prohibited only if a legal text adds it to the annexes.
- Identified as an endocrine disruptor at EU level
Recorded evaluations
- Candidate list, REACH, 2022 (human health)
(±)-1,7,7-trimethyl-3-[(4-methylphenyl)methylene]bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one, linked by CAS 36861-47-9. ECHA, Candidate List of substances of very high concern for authorisation (REACH), retrieved 23 October 2026, source updated 23 October 2026.
Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), Candidate List.
Elsewhere in the world
Information on other jurisdictions, with no effect on sale in France. What is covered, and what is not yet.
Comparison between countries
Most restrictive status in each country, and the maximum concentration cited. The details and the source of each rule follow.
| Country | Rule | Maximum concentration cited |
|---|---|---|
| European Union | Prohibited in cosmetics | not cited |
| United Kingdom | Prohibited in cosmetics | not cited |
| Switzerland | EU Regulation applies | not cited |
| United States (federal) | No federal rule recorded | not cited |
| Canada | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| Japan | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| South Korea | Restricted differs from the EU | 4% |
| China | Not on the prohibited lists recorded (lists of allowed substances are not recorded) | not cited |
| Australia | Active ingredient allowed in sunscreens differs from the EU | 4% |
| ASEAN | Prohibited | not cited |
| Taiwan | Allowed UV filter differs from the EU | 4% |
| Brazil | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Prohibited in cosmetics (Annex II)
Same entries as in the European Union. Their maximum concentrations are compared in the “Comparison between countries” table; other conditions (product types, warnings) may differ.
Annexes II to VI in force. United Kingdom, Annexes II to VI of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as retained and amended, retrieved 21 October 2026.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Northern Ireland applies EU law.
Switzerland
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 applies in Switzerland (Article 54 of the Ordinance on Foodstuffs and Utility Articles).
Switzerland, FDHA Ordinance on Cosmetic Products (OCos, SR 817.023.31), consolidated version, retrieved 22 October 2026.
United States, federal rules
None of the integrated sections of the federal code (21 CFR 700.11 to 700.27 and 250.250) targets this name. The FDA does not publish a list of allowed ingredients.
United States, 21 CFR part 700 and section 250.250 (FDA rules on cosmetic ingredients), eCFR, retrieved 21 October 2026.
The eCFR is not an official legal edition of the Code of Federal Regulations.
South Korea
- Restricted: 4-메칠벤질리덴캠퍼 (4-METHYLBENZYLIDENE CAMPHOR)
별표 2, 자외선 차단성분 (UV filters), entry 8, page 15. Limit: 4%.
Conditions, source text, in Korean
화학물질명: 4-메칠벤질리덴캠퍼(E) (CAS No. 38102-62-4) | 화학물질명: 4-메칠벤질리덴캠퍼(Z) (CAS No. 36861-47-9)
South Korea, MFDS Regulation on Safety Standards for Cosmetics, Notification 2026-19, retrieved 22 October 2026.
Source: 식품의약품안전처 (MFDS), 화장품 안전기준 등에 관한 규정, via law.go.kr; table formatted by the publisher of this site.
Australia
- Active ingredient allowed in sunscreens: 4-METHYLBENZYLIDENE CAMPHOR
Permissible Ingredients Determination (No. 3) 2026, sunscreen actives, entry 268, page 62. Thresholds cited: must not be more than 4%.
Conditions, source text
Purpose: A | Only for use as an active ingredient in sunscreens for dermal application and not to be included in medicines intended for use in the eye. | The concentration in the medicine must not be more than 4%. | The following warning statements are required on the label: | - (AVOID) 'Avoid prolonged exposure in the sun' (or words to this effect); and | - (SUNPRO) 'Wear protective clothing - hats and eyewear when exposed to the sun' (or words to this effect).
Australia, Therapeutic Goods (Permissible Ingredients) Determination (No. 3) 2026, sunscreen actives, retrieved 22 October 2026.
Based on content from the Federal Register of Legislation at 2026-10-22. For the latest information on Australian Government legislation please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au. Licence CC BY 4.0.
ASEAN (South-East Asia)
- Prohibited: 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor; 3-(4'-methylbenzylidene)-camphor
Annex II (prohibited substances), entry 1723, page 97.
ASEAN Cosmetic Directive, Annexes II, III, IV, VI and VII (version 2026-1 of 22 June 2026, Annex VII 2025-2), retrieved 24 October 2026.
Source: ASEAN Cosmetic Documents, Annexes of the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive, as published by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA, Singapore); table extracted and formatted by the publisher of this site, with no endorsement by HSA or ASEAN.
Taiwan
- Allowed UV filter: 3-(4-Methylbenzylidene)-d1 camphor/ Enzacamene (4-Methylbenzylidene camphor)
特定用途化粧品成分名稱及使用限制表, 防曬劑 (allowed UV filters). Limit: 4%.
Taiwan, TFDA cosmetic ingredient tables (prohibited, restricted, preservatives, UV filters, colorants), open data, retrieved 24 October 2026.
Source: Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA), open datasets on data.gov.tw (Open Government Data License, version 1.0); table formatted by the publisher of this site.
Recorded cosmetics that contain it
20 recorded products list it, according to Open Beauty Facts contributors. Records are dated: the formula may have changed. See the list (in French).
Open Beauty Facts, export of cosmetic products, retrieved 23 October 2026.
Data “Open Beauty Facts and its contributors”, licensed under ODbL 1.0 (opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1-0); derived table distributed under the same licence.
Glossary: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175. Page updated on 23 October 2026.