ECHA Adds Five Hazardous Chemicals to Candidate List
Written By: Atanu Das on Tuesday, January 23, 2024
These chemicals pose potential harm to both human health and the environment. It is crucial for companies to manage the associated risks and provide essential information to customers and consumers for the safe use of these substances.
**New Additions to the Candidate List:**
1. **2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenol:**
- EC number: 211-989-5
- CAS number: 732-26-3
- Reason for inclusion: Toxic for reproduction (Article 57c), Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) (Article 57d)
- Examples of uses: Manufacture of another substance; formulation of mixtures and in fuel products.
2. **2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol:**
- EC number: 221-573-5
- CAS number: 3147-75-9
- Reason for inclusion: Very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) (Article 57e)
- Examples of uses: Air care products, coating products, adhesives and sealants, lubricants and greases, polishes and waxes, and washing and cleaning products.
3. **2-(dimethylamino)-2-[(4-methylphenyl)methyl]-1-[4-(morpholin-4-yl)phenyl]butan-1-one:**
- EC number: 438-340-0
- CAS number: 119344-86-4
- Reason for inclusion: Toxic for reproduction (Article 57c)
- Examples of uses: Inks and toners, coating products.
4. **Bumetrizole:**
- EC number: 223-445-4
- CAS number: 3896-11-5
- Reason for inclusion: vPvB (Article 57e)
- Examples of uses: Coating products, adhesives and sealants, and washing and cleaning products.
5. **Oligomerisation and alkylation reaction products of 2-phenylpropene and phenol:**
- EC number: 700-960-7
- CAS number: -
- Reason for inclusion: vPvB (Article 57e)
- Examples of uses: Adhesives and sealants, coating products, fillers, putties, plasters, modelling clay, inks and toners, and polymers.
**Update to Existing Entry:**
- *Dibutyl phthalate:* The entry for dibutyl phthalate has been updated to include its endocrine disrupting properties for the environment.
ECHA's Member State Committee has confirmed these additions, bringing the total to 240 entries, with some representing groups of chemicals. The substances may potentially be placed on the Authorisation List, limiting their use unless specific authorization is granted by the European Commission.
Consequences of the Candidate List:
Under REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals), companies have legal obligations related to substances on the Candidate List. These include providing information on safe usage, notifying ECHA about articles containing these substances, and updating safety data sheets.
Importantly, consumers have the right to inquire about the presence of substances of very high concern in products they purchase. Furthermore, under the Waste Framework Directive, companies must notify ECHA if their articles contain these substances above a specified concentration, with this information being published in ECHA's database of substances of concern in products (SCIP).