July 2, 2013
Details
The Member State Committee (MSC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has added six new Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) to the candidate list, bringing the total to 144 substances. As foreseen by 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).
Two of the substances, Cadmium and Cadmium oxide are identified as carcinogenic. Three substances, Ammonium pentadecafluorooctanoate (APFO), Pentadecafluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Dipentyl phthalate (DPP) are considered as toxic for reproduction. One substance, 4-Nonylphenol, branched and linear, ethoxylated, is considered as having probable serious effects to the environment due to the endocrine disrupting properties of the degradation products.
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 June 20, 2013 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
To help manufacturers, importers and retailers comply with the provisions of REACH, UL's chemical services include testing for a wide variety of substances including phthalates, BPA, heavy metals including lead and cadmium, and toxins in packaging.
To learn how UL's chemical management services can help ensure regulatory compliance for every country in which you source or sell, click Contact UL at the top of the page and a UL representative will follow up with you soon.