On 17 January 2023, ECHA added nine chemicals to the list of candidate substances for their harmful effects on the environment and/or human health. These substances include:
- 2,2',6,6'-tetrabromobisphenol A (CAS No. 79-94-7) because of its carcinogenic properties. This bisphenol is used as a reactive flame retardant and as an additive flame retardant in the manufacture of polymer resins, in products such as epoxy coated circuit boards, paper and textiles.
- Bisphenol S (CAS No. 80-09-1) due to its reprotoxic and endocrine disrupting properties for human health and the environment. BPS is present for instance in thermal papers, textiles, leather, fur...
- Bis(2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate (covering any of the individual isomers and/or combinations thereof) as this substance is very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB). This flame retardant/plasticizer for PVC is used to produce cable insulation, films, carpet backing, coated fabrics, wall coverings and adhesives.
- Perfluoroheptanoic acid and its salts, due to their reproductive toxicity, their PBT1 and vPvB status and their serious effects on human health and the environment. Although the substance itself is not registered under REACH, the identification as SVHC can be seen as a measure to avoid any unfortunate substitution in the future.
- The reaction mass of octafluoro-4-(1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropan-2-yl)morpholine and octafluoro-4-(heptafluoropropyl)morpholine is such that this mixture is very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB).
Inclusion on this list entails immediate obligations for companies:
- They are responsible for managing the risks associated with these substances
- They must provide their customers and consumers with sufficient information to ensure the safe use of articles containing more than 0.1% (by weight)
- Under the Waste Framework Directive, they are obliged to notify to the ECHA SCIP database articles containing any of these substances in a concentration above 0.1%.
In addition, all these substances are candidates for further consideration for possible inclusion in the list of substances (Annex XIV) whose use under REACH is subject to authorisation for placing on the EU market.
1 PBT: Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic
Source: All news - ECHA (europa.eu)