On Tuesday, 15 January 2019 ECHA added 6 new substances to the Candidate List for Authorisation (SVHC) which now has a total of 197 entries.
Four of these entries concern Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) added because of their carcinogenic, persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) or very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) properties:
- Benzo[k]fluoranthene,
- Fluoranthene,
- Phenanthrene,
- Pyrene.
It should be noted that certain PAHs, including Benzo[k]fluoranthene, are already subject to restrictions in Annex XVII of REACH for certain uses (tyres, rubber or plastic objects, toys, etc.). An impact study is also underway on their use in granules on synthetic turf fields (sports fields or children’s playgrounds in particular).
2,2-bis(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-4-methylpentane has been added because of its toxic properties for reproduction.
Finally, 1,7,7,7-trimethyl-3-(phenylmethylene)bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one has been added as an endocrine disrupter (see our article about it).
Importers and distributors of articles have until 15 July 2019 to notify ECHA of the presence of these substances in their articles placed on the European market under the terms of Article 7.2 of REACH.
Downstream users are also concerned because they have an obligation to inform their customers of the presence of these newly added substances on the candidate list if they are present at more than 0.1% by weight/weight ratio of the article. (Article 33 of REACh).
The addition of these substances to the candidate list also opens the possibility of an addition to Annex XIV (substances subject to authorisation).
