Five New “Substances of Very High Concern” Added to EU's REACH Candidate List

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) today announced the addition of five new “substances of very high concern” to Europe’s Registration, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals Regulation (REACH) Candidate List. If approved for further regulation under REACH program—which is similar to the Toxic Substances Control Act or TSCA in the US—these substances will be placed on the “authorization list” and face additional restrictions.

Substances on the authorization list cannot be used or sent to market after a given date unless authorization is given for a specific use. US exporters whose products contain these substances may face additional requirements in order to ship to the European Union if the substances are added to the authorization list.



The five substances of very high concern (SVHCs) added today are:

• Nitrobenzene
  • CAS 98-95-3
  • Used in manufacturing substances
  • Toxic for reproduction
• 2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-(5-chlorobenzotriazol-2-yl)phenol (UV-327)
  • CAS 3864-99-1
  • Used as UV-protection agent in coatings, plastics, rubbers, cosmetics
  • Very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB)
• 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-(tert-butyl)-6-(sec-butyl)phenol (UV-350)
  • CAS 253-037-1
  • Also used as UV-protection in same products as above
  • Very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB)
• 1,3-propanesultone
  • CAS 1120-71-4
  • Used as an electrolyte fluid in lithium ion batteries
  • Known carcinogen
• Perfluorononan-1-oic-acid and its sodium and ammonium salts
  • CAS 375-95-1, 21049-39-8, and 4149-60-4
  • Used as a processing aid, a lubricating additive, a cleaning agent, and more

Extra Requirements for EU and European Economic Area (EEA) Suppliers

When chemical substances are added to the REACH Candidate List, it triggers a few requirements for suppliers. If shipping the substance on its own to a customer, the supplier must provide a Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

If shipping the substance in an article (like a battery), the supplier must submit notification within six months of inclusion on the Candidate List if the substance has not yet been registered for a specific use.

If an article or mixture contains the substance in a concentration above .1%, suppliers must provide information that allows customers to use the product safely.

More information is available at the ECHA’s website.

Tags: chemicals, environmental compliance, Europe