Update of the Candidate List under REACH: additional eight substances of very high concern (SVHC) identified

  • Date 2021-07-09

The Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHC) now contains 219 chemicals that may harm people or the environment.

The Candidate List contains SVHC identified by the European Commission in agreement with the Member States and assisted by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Substances included in the Candidate List are prioritized for inclusion in Annex XIV List of Substances Subject to Authorisation afterwards.

Entries added to the Candidate List on 8 July 2021:

  • 2-(4-tert-butylbenzyl)propionaldehyde and its individual stereoisomers
  • Orthoboric acid, sodium salt
  • 2,2-bis(bromomethyl)propane1,3-diol (BMP); 2,2-dimethylpropan-1-ol, tribromo derivative/3-bromo-2,2-bis(bromomethyl)-1-propanol (TBNPA); 2,3-dibromo-1-propanol (2,3-DBPA)
  • Glutaral
  • Medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCP)
  • Phenol, alkylation products (mainly in para position) with C12-rich branched alkyl chains from oligomerisation, covering any individual isomers and/ or combinations thereof (PDDP)
  • 1,4-dioxane
  • 4,4'-(1-methylpropylidene)bisphenol

Some of the newly added substances are used in consumer products such as cosmetics, scented articles, rubber and textiles. Others are used as solvents, flame retardants or to manufacture plastics products. Most have been added to the Candidate List because they are hazardous to human health as they are toxic for reproduction, carcinogenic, respiratory sensitisers or endocrine disruptors.

Companies must follow their legal obligations and ensure the safe use of these chemicals. They also have to notify ECHA under the Waste Framework Directive if their products contain substances of very high concern. This notification is submitted to ECHA’s SCIP database and the information will later be published on the Agency’s website.

Original source: https://echa.europa.eu/de/-/candidate-list-updated-with-eight-hazardous-chemicals