Is 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor (4-MBC) safe in cosmetics?
4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor (4-MBC) has a safety rating of "MODERATE" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
MODERATE
Cosmetic Ingredient
4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor (4-MBC)
4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor (4-MBC) (CAS 36861-47-9 / 38102-62-4) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as UV stabilizer. SCCS NOAEL 40 mg/kg/day per SCCS/1639/21; EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 36861-47-9 / 38102-62-4 →
Function
UV stabilizer
Editorial assessment
MODERATE
Preliminary editorial note — not a computed safety verdict.
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor (4-MBC).
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
SCCS NOAEL Values
NOAEL/LOAEL values cited in official SCCS opinions for 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor (4-MBC).
| NOAEL | LOAEL | Route | Species | Study | DA% (SCCS) | Opinion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 mg/kg/day | 200 mg/kg/day | Oral | Rat | Subchronic (90-day) (90 days (dietary)) | 100 | SCCS/1639/21 (2022) |
Expanded Jurisdictional Detail
Additional regulatory detail beyond the 7-jurisdiction summary: Saudi SFDA, Korea MFDS, ASEAN ACD, Japan/Korea, Brazil/India, and cross-jurisdictional restriction entries.
SA Saudi SFDA (VI - UV Filters)
Max: 0.04.
BRIN Brazil/India Cosmetics
India: Permitted UV Filter · max 0.04
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (1)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | banned | - | - |
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
UV stabilizer
Regulatory List Membership (2)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
EU CosIng Cosmetics Ingredient Database
Editorial summary
Preliminary editorial summary for 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor (4-MBC) — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Regulatory Flags
eu_cosing_listed
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor (4-MBC) by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
72
Lowest NOAEL
0.588
Highest NOAEL
400
Units vary across source rows: mg/kg bw/day, mg/kg/day, mg/kg bw /day
SCCS Opinion
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor (4-MBC) allowed in the EU?
4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor (4-MBC) EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor (4-MBC) do in cosmetics?
4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor (4-MBC) functions as: UV stabilizer. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 36861-47-9 / 38102-62-4.
Compliance Tools
Check 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor (4-MBC) compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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4-METHYLBENZYLIDENE CAMPHOR
MODERATE
Chemical family
Light Stabilizer, Uv Absorber, Uv Filter
Enzacamene (4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor)
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Chemical family
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4-METHYLPENT-3-EN-2-ONE
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