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EU REACH: EC Decision Identified 3-benzylidene camphor as SVHC

DEcember 2018- Relevant for: electrical & electronics, hardlines, softlines, toys & children's products

On 18 December 2018, the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) published the Decision (EU) No 2018/2013¹, which identified 1,7,7-trimethyl-3-(phenylmethylene)bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one (3-benzylidene camphor) as a substance of very high concern (SVHC). It is expected that the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) will include this substance to the SVHC Candidate List² in the next scheduled update by the end of December 2018 or January 2019.

3-benzylidene camphor had undergone the public consultation of REACH SVHC Candidate List during March to April of 2016. However, the Member State Committee (MSC) did not unanimously agreement on the identification of the substance, and 3-benzylidene camphor was not included into the SVHC Candidate List in June 2016. Afterwards, the MSC’s comments³were submitted to the European Commission (EC) for the decision making.

Considering the majority opinion of the MSC, the data presented and discussed in the Annex XV dossier and key scientific study referred to in the minority MSC opinion, the EC decided to identify 3-benzylidene camphor as a SVHC due to its endocrine disrupting properties with probable serious effects to the environment.

Table A gives the substance name, identification number (CAS and EC), the reason for inclusion and the potential applications of 3-benzylidene camphor.

[1] Decision (EU) No 2018/2013
[2] The official Candidate List
[3] The Opinion of the Member State Committee of the European Chemicals Agency of 9 June 2016 - 3-benzylidene camphor