Helsinki, 1 October 2019, The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) issued a recommendation to the European Commission to prioritize 18 new substances of very high concern (SVHCs) in the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation Authorisation List.

Substances on the Authorisation List will be prohibited from use in the European Union (EU) unless a company obtains authorization for its continued use. The substances are chosen from the SVHC Candidate List.

In October 2019, the European Commission added 11 new substances to the list. If the new ECHA recommendation is followed, 72 substances will be regulated in 2020, which is up from 43 at the beginning of 2019.

The 18 substances have been suggested for the Authorisation List based on properties deemed hazardous to public health or the environment. They have been prioritized based on their high volume and widespread use.

They are as follows:

1. 4,4′-isopropylidenediphenol (Bisphenol A; BPA) — CAS: 80-05-7, EC: 201-245-8

2. 1,6,7,8,9,14,15,16,17,17,18,18-Dodecachloropentacyclo[12.2.1.16,9.02,13.05,10]octadeca-7,15-diene (“Dechlorane Plus”™).

3. Reaction products of 1,3,4-thiadiazolidine-2,5-dithione, formaldehyde and 4-heptylphenol, branched and linear (RP-HP) with ≥0.1% w/w 4-heptylphenol, branched and linear (4-Hbl) — CAS: 13560-89-9, EC: 236-948-9.

4. 2-ethylhexyl 10-ethyl-4,4-dioctyl-7-oxo-8-oxa-3,5-dithia-4-stannatetradecanoate (DOTE) — CAS: 15571-58-1, EC: 239-622-4.

5. Reaction mass of 2-ethylhexyl 10-ethyl-4,4-dioctyl-7-oxo-8-oxa-3,5-dithia-4-stannatetradecanoate and 2-ethylhexyl 10-ethyl-4-[[2-[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]-2-oxoethyl]thio]-4-octyl-7-oxo-8-oxa-3,5-dithia-4-stannatetradecanoate (reaction mass of DOTE and MOTE)

6. 4,4′-bis(dimethylamino)-4”-(methylamino)trityl alcohol with ≥ 0.1% of Michler’s ketone (EC No. 202-027-5) or Michler’s base (EC No. 202-959-2).

7. Dioxobis(stearato)trilead — CAS: 12578-12-0, EC: 235-702-8.

8. Fatty acids, C16-18, lead salts — CAS: 91031-62-8, EC: 292-966-7.

9. Trilead dioxide phosphonate — CAS: 12141-20-7, EC: 235-252-2.

10. Sulfurous acid, lead salt, dibasic — CAS: 62229-08-7, EC: 263-467-1.

11. [Phthalato(2-)]dioxotrilead — CAS: 69011-06-9, EC: 273-688-5.

12. Trilead bis(carbonate) dihydroxide — CAS: 1319-46-6, EC: 215-290-6.

13. Lead oxide sulfate — CAS: 12036-76-9, EC: 234-853-7.

14. Cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride [1], cis-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride [2], trans-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride [3] (HHPA) — [1] CAS: 85-42-7, EC: 201-604-9, [2] CAS: 13149-00-3, EC: 236-086-3, [3] CAS: 14166-21-3, EC: 238-009-9.

15. Hexahydromethylphthalic anhydride [1], Hexahydro-4-methylphthalic anhydride [2], Hexahydro-1-methylphthalic anhydride [3], Hexahydro-3-methylphthalic anhydride [4] (MHHPA) — [1] CAS: 25550-51-0, EC:247-094-1, [2] CAS: 19438-60-9, EC:243-072-0, [3] CAS: 48122-14-1, EC: 256-356-4, [4] CAS: 57110-29-9, EC: 260-566-1.

16. Tetraethyllead — CAS: 78-00-2, EC: 201-075-4.

17. 2-methoxyethanol — CAS:109-86-4, EC: 203-713-7.

18. 2-ethoxyethanol — CAS: 110-80-5, EC: 203-804-1.

The ECHA notes that some of these chemicals are not currently in production within the EU, however, they have recommended their inclusion as they could be used as a substitute for other substances currently on the Authorisation List.

The final decision on the inclusion of the substances, as well as the relevant sunset dates, will be made by the European Commission in collaboration with member states and the European Parliament.

Reference : https://echa.europa.eu/-/echa-proposes-18-substances-for-authorisation