There are now 209 substances of very high concern (SVHCs) on the European Chemical Agency (ECHA)’s Candidate List, after four new substances were officially added on June 25.
The substances added are:
- 1-vinylimidazole (CAS: 1072-63-5), which is used in formations and in the production of polymers.
- 2-methylimidazole (CAS: 693-98-1), which is used in the production of coating products.
- Dibutylbis(pentane-2,4-dionato-O,O’)tin (CAS: 22673-19-4), which is used in formations and in the production of polymers.
- butyl-4-hydroxybenzoate (CAS: 94-26-8), which is used in cosmetics, personal care, and pharmaceutical products.
Why Were These New Substances Added?
One substance (2-methylimidazole) was added based on its endocrine-disrupting properties, while the other three are all included because of their toxicity to reproduction. With these additions, two-thirds of the total SVHCs are known as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction — otherwise known as CMRs.
If these substances were to later move to the Authorisation List, companies in scope of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation would be obligated to find ways to remove them from products, or apply for permission to continue to use them.
If the substances move on to the REACH Authorisation List, companies should know if any of their products or supplied parts contain these SVHCs to maintain market access. By collecting data, such as through full material disclosures (FMDs), companies can strategically adjust their formulations or sourcing, and be aware of necessary applications.
Assent supports the collection of FMD and SVHC data. To learn more about how Assent helps companies maintain REACH compliance, contact our experts.
