The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published the new REACH Candidate List on June 25, 2020: Four Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) were added to the list. The Candidate List of substances of very high concern for Authorization now contains 209 substances.

Butyl-4-hydroxybenzoate (Butylparaben) was added to the new Candidate List due to its endocrine disrupting properties, while 1-vinylimidazole, 2-methylimidazole and Dibutylbis(pentane-2,4-dionato-O,O')tin were included as they are toxic for reproduction.

The newly added four substances have many different uses:

• 1-vinylimidazole (CAS number: 1072-63-5) is used in formulations and as a monomer in the production of polymers.
• 2-methylimidazole (CAS number: 693-98-1) is used as a catalyst in the production of coating products.
• Dibutylbis(pentane-2,4-dionato-O,O')tin (CAS number: 22673-19-4) is used a catalyst and as an additive in the production of plastics.
• Butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (Butylparaben) (CAS number: 94-26-8) is used in Cosmetics, personal care products and pharmaceuticals.

You might have legal obligations regarding the newly added substances: Any supplier of an article containing a Candidate List substance above a concentration of 0.1 % weight by weight has to give sufficient information to their customers and consumers to allow safe use.

In addition, importers and producers of articles containing a Candidate List substance might have to notify ECHA not later than six months from the date of its inclusion in the list (25 June 2020).

New SCIP database notification: As of January 2021, companies will also need to notify ECHA’s SCIP database if their articles contain Candidate List substances. We are happy to support you regarding the new SCIP database requirements.