EU - Candidate List Updated with Eight Hazardous Chemicals

​The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) updated the Candidate List by adding eight hazardous chemicals as substances of very high concern (SVHCs) on July 8. Some of the newly added substances are used in consumer products, such as cosmetics, scented articles, rubber and textiles. Others are used, for example, as solvents, flame retardants or in the manufacture of plastics products. Most of them were added to the Candidate List due to their hazards to people, being toxic to reproduction, carcinogenic, respiratory sensitizers or endocrine disruptors.

Companies must follow their legal obligations and ensure the safe use of these chemicals. As of January 5, they also have to notify ECHA under the Waste Framework Directive if their products contain SVHCs. This notification is submitted to ECHA's SCIP database and the information will later be published on the ECHA website.

Entries added to the Candidate List are as follows:

1. ​2-(4-tert-butylbenzyl)propionaldehyde and its individual stereoisomers:
   Used in cleaning agents, cosmetics, in scented articles, polishes and wax blends.
   
2. Orthoboric acid, sodium salt:
   Not registered under REACH, it may be used as solvent and corrosion inhibitor.
   
3. 2,2-bis(bromomethyl)propane1,3-diol (BMP); 
   2,2-dimethylpropan-1-ol, tribromo derivative/3-bromo-2,2-bis(bromomethyl)-1-propanol (TBNPA);
   2,3-dibromo-1-propanol (2,3-DBPA):
   BMP: manufacture of polymer resins and in one component foam (OCPF) application.
   TBNPA: polymer production manufacture of plastics, including compounding and conversion and as an intermediate.
   DBPA: registered as an intermediate.
   
4. Glutaral:
   Used in biocides, leather tanning, x-ray film processing, cosmetics.
   
5. Medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCP) UVCB substances consisting of more than or equal to 80% linear chloroalkanes with carbon chain lengths within the range from C14 to C17:
   Used as flame retardants, plasticizing additives in plastics, sealants, rubber and textiles.
   
6. Phenol, alkylation products (mainly in para position) with C12-rich branched alkyl chains from oligomerization, covering any individual isomers and/or combinations thereof (PDDP):
   Used in preparation of lubricant additive materials and of fuel system cleaners.
   
7. 1,4-dioxane:
   Used as a solvent.
   
8. 4,4'-(1-methylpropylidene)bisphenol: 
   Not registered under REACH, it may be used in manufacture of phenolic and polycarbonate resin.