European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) identifies four new chemicals as substances of very high concern (SVHC) and added them into the Candidate List for authorization under the REACH regulation. The additions include three substances that are believed to be toxic to reproduction and one more substance believed to be an endocrine disruptor. The Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHCs) now contains 209 substances that may have serious effects on people or the environment.
Chemicals on the Candidate List to be Phased Out
One of the substances is used in consumer products, such as cosmetics. The three others are used in industrial processes to produce polymers, coating products and plastics, respectively.
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Chemicals on the Candidate List are among the most regulated in the EU, and our aim is to gradually phase them out. In the meanwhile, companies need to ensure their safe use and be transparent towards consumers who have the right to know where these chemicals are used. Substituting them with safer alternatives can boost innovation and create a more sustainable circular economy,” said Christel Musset, ECHA’s director of hazard assessment.
Substances added to the Candidate List for authorization on 25 June 2020:
Companies are urged to check their legal obligations relating to the safe use of their substance. From January 2021, companies will also have to notify products containing SVHCs to ECHA’s upcoming SCIP database on substances of concern in articles and products. The database aims to ensure transparent information on articles containing hazardous chemicals throughout their whole lifecycle.
ECHA’s Member State Committee was involved in the decision to include butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate and dibutylbis(pentane-2,4-dionato-O,O')tin to the list.
Background
The chemicals under the Candidate List may be placed on the Authorization List in the future, which means that industry would need to apply for permission to continue using them.
Companies may have legal obligations when their substance is included in the Candidate List - either on its own, in mixtures or in articles. Any supplier of articles containing a Candidate List substance above a concentration of 0.1 percent weight by weight has to give sufficient information to their customers and consumers to allow safe use.
Importers and producers of articles containing a Candidate List substance also have six months from the date of its inclusion in the list (25 June 2020) to notify ECHA.
Candidate List Substances: Overview of Hazardous Properties
Of the 209 substances now on the Candidate List of SVHCs for authorization, a large majority are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction. Many of them have several hazardous properties.
Source: ECHA