In addition to the single update last November, the European Chemicals Agency is expanding the Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) to 247 entries. The newly included chemicals can harm both human health and the environment. Companies are responsible for managing the risks of these chemicals and providing information to customers and consumers on how to use them safely.
Some of the newly added substances are extremely persistent and bioaccumulative, while others exhibit toxic properties. Substances with endocrine-disrupting properties that affect the environment and that can be used in a wide range of industrial applications are now included in the candidate list.
The uses of these substances are wide-ranging, from the manufacture of detergents and cleaning agents, lubricants, fats and metalworking fluids to the manufacture of electrical, electronic and optical equipment.
|
Substance name |
Reason for inclusion |
Examples of uses |
|
6-[(C10-C13)-alkyl-(branched, unsaturated)-2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl]hexanoic acid |
Toxic for reproduction |
Lubricants, greases, release products and metal working fluids |
|
O,O,O-triphenyl phosphorothioate |
Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic, PBT |
Lubricants and greases |
|
Octamethyltrisiloxane |
Very persistent, very bioaccumulative, vPvB |
Manufacture and/or formulation of: cosmetics, personal/health care products, pharmaceuticals, washing and cleaning products, coating and non-metal surface treatment and in sealants and adhesives |
|
Perfluamine |
Very persistent, very bioaccumulative, vPvB |
Manufacture of electrical, electronic and optical equipment and machinery and vehicles |
|
Reaction mass of: triphenylthiophosphate and tertiary butylated phenyl derivatives |
Persistent, bioaccumulative |
No active registrations |
|
Tris(4-nonylphenyl, branched and linear) phosphite (Update) |
Endocrine disrupting properties (Article 57(f) – environment) |
Polymers, adhesives, sealants and coatings |
ECHA's Member State Committee (MSC) has confirmed the inclusion of these substances on the Candidate List. The entries on the list cover groups of chemicals, so the total number of chemicals concerned is higher. These substances may be included on the Authorisation List in the future. Then, companies may only use the substance if they apply for an authorisation and the European Commission authorises further use.
As always, companies have immediate legal obligations when a substance – either on its own, in mixtures, or in articles (products) – is included in the Candidate List. If an article contains a Candidate List substance above a concentration of 0.1% (weight by weight), extensive information obligations apply to suppliers, customers, and consumers. Furthermore, importers and producers of articles may need to provide information to ECHA.
Above all, however, companies must act in accordance with the Waste Framework Directive if the articles they produce contain substances of very high concern in concentrations above 0.1% (weight by weight). Substances of very high concern in articles must be reported in the ECHA database (SCIP). According to the EU Ecolabel Regulation, products containing SVHCs are not allowed to be labelled with the Ecolabel.
If you would like to be kept informed of all developments, please book our Alert Service:
