On Tuesday, 21 January, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) added five dangerous chemicals to the Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern under the REACH Regulation. This list now includes 247 entries for substances that can harm humans or the environment.
O,O,O-triphenyl phosphorothioate, triphenylthiophosphate (persistent, toxic, and bioaccumulative), 6-[(C10-C13)-alkyl-(branched, unsaturated)-2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl]hexanoic acid (toxic for reproduction), octamethyltrisiloxane (very persistent and very bioaccumulative), and perfluamine are used, for example, in lubricants, greases, cosmetics, and healthcare and beauty products.
ECHA’s Member State Committee (MSC) supported the addition of these substances, which may still be authorised in the future when a company submits an application [for their use] and the European Commission grants authorisation. If a product contains a Candidate List substance in a concentration of more than 0.1%, suppliers must inform their customers.
Importers and producers of articles now have six months to notify ECHA of the presence of one or more Candidate List substances in their articles. Products containing substances of very high concern are not eligible for the ecolabel. (Original version in French by Florent Servia)