Comments wanted on 15 possible 'Substances of Very High Concern'

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published proposals to identify chemicals as "Substances of Very High Concern" (SVHC) and is welcoming your comments on these 15 substances by October 15.

Anyone can comment on the 15 substances –including lead chromate and diisobutyl phthalate — proposed by EU/EEA Member States and by the European Commission. The comments will be taken into account when deciding whether the substances will be added to the so-called "Candidate List" from which substances are selected for required authorization of use.

The ECHA has advised that comments should particularly focus on the hazardous properties that qualify the chemicals as SVHCs. Parties can also provide comments and further information on the uses, exposures, and availability of safer alternative substances or techniques, although these aspects will mainly be considered at the next stage of the process to include a new round of public consultation, the EHCA said.

Comments received during the consultation period will be submitted to ECHA’s Member State Committee when it is deciding whether it agrees with the proposed identification of the substances as SVHC. Be warned: If the committee unanimously agrees to the proposals, ECHA will place the substances on the Candidate List, which already contains 15 substances. And substances appearing on this list may eventually be included in the list of substances subject to authorization in the EU. Once a substance is on the authorization list, after a transition period, they can only be used if a specific authorization is granted.

Nine out of the 15 substances are proposed to be identified as SVHCs because of their carcinogenic, mutagenic, and/or reprotoxic (CMR) properties, which the ECHA defined as having potentially serious effects on human health. Five substances are proposed to be identified as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic and as very persistent and very bioaccumulative (PBT), having potentially serious negative effects on the environment, ECHA said. One substance is proposed because it is considered both as CMR and PBT, ECHA said.

The 15 possible SVHC are listed below. Those interesting in formally commenting to the ECHA can do so via this link. You are also welcome to share your comments on this action below. If these 15 substances do move to the authorization list, will it hinder your ability to design electronics?

* Light fractions from distillation
** All refractory ceramic fibres are covered by index number 650-017-00-8 in Annex VI of the
Regulation on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of chemical substances and mixtures, the so called
CLP Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008).
*** C.I.: Colour Index