December 17, 2015
Details
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has added five new Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) to the Candidate List for Authorization, bringing the total to 168 substances. As foreseen by the Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), a specific procedure will be followed to decide whether the substances should also be included in the List of substances subject to authorization (Annex XIV of the REACH Regulation).
Substances included in the Candidate List for authorization on December 17, 2015 and their SVHC properties include:
| SUBSTANCE | EC NUMBER | CAS NUMBER | SVHC PROPERTY | EXAMPLES OF USE(S) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrobenzene | 202-716-0 | 98-95-3 | Toxic for reproduction (Article 57c) | Manufacture of other substances |
| 2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-(5-chlorobenzotriazol-2-yl)phenol (UV-327) | 223-383-8 | 3864-99-1 | vPvB (Article 57 e) | UV-protection agents in coatings, plastics, rubber and cosmetics |
| 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-(tert-butyl)-6-(sec-butyl)phenol (UV-350) | 253-037-1 | 36437-37-3 | vPvB (Article 57 e) | UV-protection agents in coatings, plastics, rubber and cosmetics |
| 1,3-propanesultone | 214-317-9 | 1120-71-4 | Carcinogenic (Article 57 a) | Electrolyte fluid of lithium ion batteries |
| Perfluorononan-1-oic-acid and its sodium and ammonium saltspropanesultone | 206-801-3 | 375-95-121049-39-8 4149-60-4 | Toxic for reproduction (Article 57 c)PBT (Article 57 d) | Processing aid for fluoropolymer manufacture/lubricating oil additive/surdactant for fire extinguishers/cleaning agent/textile antifouling finishing agent/polishing surfactant/waterproofing agents and in liquid crystal display panels |
The decision to include perfluorononan-1-oic acid and its sodium and ammonium salts was taken with the involvement of the Member State Committee.
Why It Matters
REACH regulation requires that when a chemical substance is added to the SVHC Candidate List, producers and importers of articles containing any of the six substances included in the Candidate List have six months, from the date of inclusion to notify ECHA if both of the following conditions apply: (i) the substance is present in those articles in quantities totaling over one ton per producer or importer per year and (ii) the substance is present in those articles above a concentration of 0.1% weight by weight.
Companies applying for continued use of an SVHC chemical substance must demonstrate that the risks associated with the use of these substances are adequately controlled, or that the socio-economic benefits from their use outweigh the risks. Applicants must also investigate replacing these chemical substances with safer alternatives or technologies.
How UL Can Help
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