REACH SVHC List Expanded by ECHA with Nine Additional Chemicals

On January 17th, 2023, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) added nine new chemicals to their Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHC). This list now includes a total of 233 chemicals that are considered dangerous for human health and the environment. The chemicals added to the list are commonly used in products such as flame retardants, paints and coatings, inks and toners, and plasticizers. As a measure to avoid future regrettable substitution, ECHA is taking action to manage the risks associated with these chemicals and make sure consumers have the necessary information to use them safely. It's now the responsibility of companies to manage the risks associated with these chemicals and provide necessary information to customers and consumers.

Here are the nine new chemicals that have been added to the EU REACH Candidate List of SVHC:

• 1,1'-[ethane-1,2-diylbisoxy]bis[2,4,6-tribromobenzene] (CAS#: 37853-59-1, EC#: 253-692-3)
• 2,2',6,6'-tetrabromo-4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol (CAS#: 79-94-7, EC#: 201-236-9)
• 4,4'-sulphonyldiphenol (CAS#: 80-09-1, EC#: 201-250-5)
• Barium diboron tetraoxide (CAS#: 13701-59-2, EC#: 237-222-4)
• Bis(2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate covering any of the individual isomers and/or combinations thereof
• Isobutyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (CAS#: 4247-02-3, EC#: 224-208-8)
• Melamine (CAS#: 108-78-1, EC#: 203-615-4)
• Perfluoroheptanoic acid and its salts
• reaction mass of 2,2,3,3,5,5,6,6-octafluoro-4-(1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropan-2-yl)morpholine and 2,2,3,3,5,5,6,6-octafluoro-4-(heptafluoropropyl)morpholine (EC#: 473-390-7)

These chemicals have been identified as being very persistent and very bioaccumulative, carcinogenic, toxic for reproduction, endocrine disruptors, and having an equivalent level of concern for probable serious effects on human health and the environment. It is important for companies to be aware of these new chemicals added on January 17th, 2023, and take the necessary steps to manage the risks associated with them, and for consumers to have the necessary information to use them safely.

Also, as per the Waste Framework Directive (WFD), companies have a responsibility to inform the ECHA if their products contain substances of very high concern in concentrations above 0.1% (weight by weight). This notification is then published in ECHA's database of substances of concern in products (SCIP) for public reference and transparency. This helps in maintaining safety standards for the consumers and keeping them informed about the hazardous chemicals present in the products they use.