Public consultation on potential Substances of Very High Concern

Press Release

ECHA/PR/11/04
Media enquiries: ECHA Press

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has today published proposals to identify seven chemicals as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) and possible candidates for authorisation. In addition, an amendment to one substance already on the Candidate List is proposed. Interested parties are invited to comment on the proposals by 7 April 2011.

Helsinki, 21 February 2011 - The seven new substances are proposed because of their potentially serious effects on human health. All substances are carcinogenic and/or toxic for reproduction. The names of the substances, the reasons for their proposal as SVHC and their uses are provided in the attached table.

Belgium (in co-operation with Austria and Poland), Denmark, France, and ECHA, at the request of the European Commission, have put forward proposals to identify seven chemicals as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). There is an additional proposal to align the SVHC identification of cobalt dichloride with its revised classification as both carcinogenic and toxic for reproduction. Cobalt chloride was originally identified in October 2008 as SVHC only because of its carcinogenic properties.

Anyone can comment on these eight proposals within the next 45 days. Comments should focus primarily on the hazard properties that qualify the chemicals as SVHCs. In addition, comments and further information are welcomed on the market, uses of and exposures to these substances and on the availability of safer alternatives. Commentators should be aware that these aspects will be considered at the next stage of the process (i.e. selection of substances for possible inclusion in the Authorisation List, Annex XIV of the REACH Regulation), which includes a new round of public consultation

The Member State Committee (MSC) will review comments on hazard properties when seeking agreement on the identification of the proposed substances as SVHC. Substances with agreed SVHC status will be included by ECHA in the Candidate List.

There are already 46 substances on the Candidate List. Inclusion on that list imposes new information requirements on suppliers of preparations and articles containing the listed substances.