SVHC updates!

On 16 January 2020, ECHA added four new substances of very high concern (SVHC) to its candidate list, making it 205 entries in total.

The first addition, diisohexyl phthalate, is a substance that has not been registered in the EU but that might be used outside the EU, e.g. as a plasticizer.
Two other additions, 2-benzyl-2-dimethylamino-4'-morpholinobutyrophenone and 2-methyl-1-(4-methylthiophenyl)-2-morpholinopropan-1-one, are both used in the production of polymers, especially such based on acrylates and methacrylates, and in printing inks.
The fourth new substance on the list is actually a group of substances: perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) and its salts are used in plastic production but also as a flame retardant.

For producers and importers of articles, as well as for formulators of mixtures, several obligations result from the inclusion of a substance in the Candidate List. These obligations may include communication obligations down the supply chain towards customers and consumers, or even the need to notify to ECHA within 6 months. In addition, from January 2021 on, new obligations connected to the “SCIP database” will apply. For more information have a look here.

Companies are highly recommended to check there portfolio for these substances to ensure that their products are still compliant with REACH.