Public Consultation on Eleven Potential Substances of Very High Concern

Press Release
ECHA/PR/10/16
Media enquiries: ECHA Press

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has today published proposals to identify eleven chemicals as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) and possible candidates for authorisation. The detailed proposals are available on the ECHA website using the link at the end of this press release. Interested parties are invited to comment on the eleven proposals by 14 October 2010.

Helsinki , 30 August 2010 – Three EU Member States - Austria, Germany and the Netherlands - have put forward proposals to identify eleven chemical substances as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). Anyone can comment on these proposals within the next 45 days. Comments should focus primarily on the hazardous properties that qualify the chemicals as SVHCs. In addition, interested parties can provide comments and further information on the uses, exposures and availability of safer alternative substances or techniques. They should be aware that these aspects will mainly be considered at the next stage of the process (i.e. selection of substances for authorisation), which includes a new round of public consultation. The Member State Committee will review these comments when seeking agreement on the identification of the substances as SVHC before ECHA includes them in the Candidate List, from which substances are selected for authorisation. Substances on the Authorisation List (Annex XIV of the REACH Regulation) can, after a transition period, only be used if a specific authorisation is granted.

There are already 38 substances on the Candidate List. Inclusion in that list means new information requirements for suppliers of products (mixtures and articles) containing the substances.The substances have been proposed because of their potentially serious effects on human health or the environment. Eight are carcinogenic, mutagenic and/or toxic for reproduction (CMR substances). The other three are proposed as being of equivalent concern than PBT substances (persistent, liable to bioaccumulate and toxic). The names of the substances, the reasons for their proposal as SVHC and their potential uses are provided below.