The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published a first draft of substances that could eventually lead to tough authorisation requirements that will potentially prohibit their use unless industry can indicate there is a compelling reason to allow them.
Each entry on the so called "candidate list" of substances of very high concern (SVHCs) has been put forward by a government in the European Union. The list includes three phthalates and the brominated flame retardant HBCDD.
The ECHA has opened a public consultation on the list - the first to be held around the operation and implementation of the REACH Regulations - in which stakeholders will be encouraged to submit information on use and exposure as well as on safer alternative substances. Comments should be confined to technical issues.
After the consultation closes on 14 August 2008, the ECHA Member State Committee will review the dossiers on which comments have been received and propose substances to be placed on the candidates list. The agency hopes to publish a final list by the end of October. It will be updated on a regular basis as more information on other substances accumulates under the REACH registration process.
Where a substance is included on the candidate list it will generate various requirements for producers, importers and suppliers of articles that contain it. A second consultation will lead to a decision on whether or not the substance should undergo authorisation.
The 16 substances on the list are anthracene, 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), cyclododecane, cobalt dichloride, diarsenic pentaoxide, diarsenic trioxide sodium dichromate, musk xylene, DEHP, Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), bis(tributyltin)oxide, lead hydrogen arsenate, triethyl arsenate and benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP).
Directive Decoder
Gary Nevison, Head of Legislation at 
Subscribe to this blog's feed