Resorcinol not identified as a substance of very high concern

ECHA/NR/20/20

ECHA’s Member State Committee (MSC) did not agree to identify resorcinol as a substance of very high concern (SVHC) due to its endocrine-disrupting properties. Now, the Commission's REACH Committee will make a final decision.

Helsinki, 16 June 2020 - At its June meeting, the Member State Committee did not unanimously support France’s proposal to identify resorcinol (EC 203-585-2; CAS 108-46-3) as an SVHC. However, the committee acknowledged that there is scientific evidence that resorcinol is an endocrine disruptor as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Where the MSC is unable to reach a consensus, the European Commission’s REACH Committee will take the final decision. After receiving the MSC’s opinion, the Commission has three months to prepare a draft proposal on the identification as an SVHC and will then make a final decision in its committee procedure.

Resorcinol is used to manufacture rubber compounds, resins and coatings, as well as cosmetics. It is the first substance proposed as an SVHC because of its thyroid disrupting effects in humans. A majority of the committee members concluded that there is scientific evidence of probable serious effects to human health due to hypothyroidism and potential neurodevelopmental effects during pregnancy. However, a few members expressed different views on whether the substance is of equivalent level of concern.

The committee agreed to identify other substances as SVHCs. ECHA will update the Candidate List of SVHCs later in June.