REACH: Four Chemicals Added to Candidate List
According to an ECHA press release dated January 16, the Agency has added four chemicals to the REACH candidate list.
All the additions are substances of very high concern (SVHCs):
- Diisohexyl phthalate: Not registered under REACH
- 2-benzyl-2-dimethylamino-4′-morpholinobutyrophenone: Used in the manufacture of polymers
- 2-methyl-1-(4-methylthiophenyl)-2-morpholinopropan-1-one: Used in the manufacture of polymers
- Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) and its salts: Used in the manufacture of polymers, as an element of other chemical syntheses, and as a flame retardant in polycarbonate parts of electronic equipment
Article 57, c of REACH classifies the first three chemicals as reprotoxic; Article 57, 7 classifies PFBS as having serious effects on the environment and human health. Accordingly, the substance is persistent to the environment and is distributed very fast (high environmental mobility paired with high ecotoxicity, see Annex XV Report, p.160 ff).
The inclusion of a chemical in the REACH candidate list has consequences for the manufacturers and importers of an SVHC. They must now inform their customers about the chemicals by providing them with a safety data sheet. The same obligation applies to mixtures when the chemical is present in an individual concentration of at least 0.1% by weight.
Information must also be supplied to the ECHA when products contain SVHCs in a concentration of more than 0.1% by mass. The applicable regulation is Article 7, Section 2 of REACH.
Vendors also have obligations to consumers according to Article 33, Section 2. Upon a consumer’s request, the vendor must provide information on the safe usage of the product, or at least its name, within 45 days of the request.
The candidate list is updated regularly. Currently 205 substances are listed there.
Do you deal with products that contain SVHC? Contact us at any time at reach@kft.de.
