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REACH 233 SVHCs

Every six months, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) proposes new chemicals to add to EU REACH’s Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) Candidate List. Here are the additional substances for a REACH list of 233 SVHCs.

Over the years, ECHA has considered various chemicals to the candidate list, depending on their known hazard. Typically, stakeholders submit comments on the suggested substances during a consultation period.

Consequently, ECHA considers these comments and reports its final decision. The SVHC list is updated accordingly. Importantly that changes come into effect immediately.

REACH 233 - the Lastest SVHC

Please find additional details regarding the potential hazards and applications of these chemicals in the table below:

Substance Name

CAS #

Hazards

Applications (Where used)

Reference

1,1'-[ethane-1,2-diylbisoxy]bis[2,4,6-tribromobenzene] (BTBPE)

37853-59-1

Persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT)

  • Additive in flame retardants and in thermoplastics.
  •  Acrylonitrile butadiene-polystyrene (ABS), high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) resins, including electronics, electrical products, and some construction materials.

1

2,2',6,6'-tetrabromo-4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol (Tetrabromobisphenol A) (TBBPA)

79-94-7

Carcinogenic

Brominated flame-retardant used in:

  • epoxy coated circuit boards
  • printed circuit boards
  • printed wiring boards (PWB)
  • paper
  • textiles

2

 

Is also an EU RoHS candidate substance and a California Proposition 65 chemical

4,4'-sulphonyldiphenol (BPS)

80-09-01

  • Toxic for reproduction
  • Endocrine disrupting properties
  • Used in thermal paper, leather products, and recycled paper.
  • Used in the manufacture of Polyethersulfone (PESU) polymer, Synthetic tanning agents (Syntans) (e.g., for tanning in leather production), and polymers.

3

Barium diboron tetraoxide

13701-59-2

Toxic for reproduction

  • Coating of PVC truck foil and electrical wires.
  • Paints, coatings, thinners, and paint removers.

4

Bis(2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate (TBPH) covering any of the individual isomers and/or combinations thereof

-

Very persistent, very bioaccumulative (vPvB)

  • Electrical/electronic articles
  • Plastic and rubber articles e.g., flexible PVC, wires, and cable insulation
  • Adhesives and sealants
  • Additive in flame retardants
  • Film and sheeting, carpet backing, coated fabrics, and wall coverings
  • One component foam e.g., polyurethane foam 

5

Isobutyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (IBP)

4247-02-03

Endocrine disrupting properties

  • Coating and paint products, fillers, putties, plasters, modelling clay, inks, and toners
  • Intermediate in chemical production or refinery processes

6

Melamine

108-78-1

Probable serious effects on human health and the environment

  • Production of formaldehyde-based resins often used in the woodworking industry (e.g., laminate flooring, wood-based panels, surface-coating panels).
  • Coatings for foams and to produce consumer goods like tableware.
  • Intermediate for adhesives, lacquers, pigment, coatings, inks, rigid foams, polyurethane foams, rubbers, and polymers often used for fire safety applications.
  • Leather manufacturing processes.

7

Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) and its salts

-

  • PBT and vPvB
  • Toxic for reproduction
  • Probable serious effects on human health and the environment
  • Stain or water repellent
  • Wetting, dispersing, emulsifying, and foaming agents

8, 9

Reaction mass of 2,2,3,3,5,5,6,6-octafluoro-4-(1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropan-2-yl)morpholine and 2,2,3,3,5,5,6,6-octafluoro-4-(heptafluoropropyl)morpholine

-

vPvB

  • Formulation into mixtures
  • Industrial and professional use in closed systems. E.g., it is used as a laboratory reagent and as a functional fluid at an industrial site and indoors.

10

Additional Information on the REACH 233 SVHC List Update

Thus, the candidate list includes 233 SHVCs as of December 2022. Enviropass maintains the current REACH SVHC list up to date.

Please note several halogens are regulated Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP). Various countries prohibit or restrict certain POP substances. 

tbbpa

What to do Next to Ensure Compliance?

TBPH
  • First, to comply with EU REACH, producers and importers should notify the public of articles containing SVHC above the threshold of 0.1% w/w at the component level. 
  • Fortunately, ECHA has uniformized this process to increase data sharing and transparency. They have developed a public online database called the SCIP database, which enables the declaration of any SHVC surpassing the threshold within a given article. 
  • Furthermore, an additional list within the EU REACH regulation applies: the Annex XVII. It restricts or prohibits certain hazardous chemicals under specific applications. ECHA regularly issues amendments to this annex. Thus, verify that your product also meets these requirements. 

An easy way towards REACH compliance is to:

  1. Audit your supply chain. Feel free to use the Enviropass Product Environmental Compliance (EPEC) form.
  2. Do a risk assessment.
  3. Lab test if needed.