ECHA OFFICIALLY PUBLISHES THE SIXTEENTH BATCH SVHC CANDIDATE LIST

On the 12th of January 2017 The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) added four new Substances to be included in the Candidate List of Very High Concern (SVHCs), The substances are BPA, PFDA and its sodium and ammonium salts, p-(1,1-dimethylpropyl)phenol and 4-heptylphenol, branched and linear.

As no unanimous agreement was reached by the MSC on the SVHC identification of PTBP and TMA, The Commission subsequently has three months to prepare draft proposals on their identification as SVHCs and take a final decision in its committee procedure.

16th Batch SVHC Candidate List

No.Substance NameEC No.CAS No.Examples of use(s)Reason for proposing
14,4’-isopropylidenediphenol (bisphenol A)201-245-880-05-7Manufacture of polycarbonate, epoxy resins and chemicals; hardener in epoxy resinsToxic for reproduction (Article 57 c)
2Nonadecafluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) and its sodium and ammonium salts—   206-400-3 221-470-5 3108-42-7   335-76-2 3830-45-3 Lubricant, wetting agent, plasticiser and   corrosion inhibitor Toxic for reproduction (Article 57 c); PBT (Article 57 d)
3p-(1,1-dimethylpropyl)phenol201-280-980-46-6Manufacture of chemicals and plastic productsSerious effects to the environment (Article 57 f)
44-Heptylphenol, branched and linear [substances with a linear and/or branched alkyl chain with a carbon number of 7 covalently bound predominantly in position 4 to phenol, covering also UVCB- and well-defined substances which include any of the individual isomers or a combination thereof]Manufacture of polymers; formulation into lubricantsSerious effects to the environment (Article 57 f)

Legal Obligations of Companies

Producers and exporters of articles containing any of the SVHC candidates shall notify ECHA if both of the following conditions apply:

i. the substance is present in those articles in quantities totaling over one tonne per producer or exporter per year, and

ii. the substance is present in those articles above a concentration of 0.1% weight by weight.

CTI Suggestion

As the SVHC Candidate List is consistently updated, companies are facing increasing numbers of control requirements. Producers shall notify the ECHA within six months after a substance has been included in the SVHC Candidate List if they meet the conditions. Companies should focus on REACH news and take necessary preventative actions as soon as possible.