ECHA Consults on the Identification of Six New Substances of Very High Concern

On 30 August 2024, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) launched a public consultation on proposals to identify six new chemicals as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs). The consultation is open until 14 October 2024 and stakeholders are invited to submit comments in particular on the identity of the substances, their use, potential alternatives, exposure risks and hazardous properties. This input will help ECHA determine whether these substances should be included in the Candidate List for possible inclusion in the Authorisation List.

Substances of Very High Concern

SVHCs are chemicals that cause serious and often irreversible effects on human health and the environment. Once identified, these substances are included the Candidate List, where they are evaluated for possible inclusion in the Authorisation List. Chemicals on the Authorisation List cannot be used without prior approval from the European Commission. As of June 2024, the Candidate List contains 241 entries, while the Authorisation List contains 59.

Proposed Substances for Inclusion in the Candidate List

The six substances proposed for inclusion in the Candidate List are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT), very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB), toxic for reproduction or endocrine disruptors. The substances are listed in the table below and further details can be found here.

Next Steps

If no significant objections or new information are raised during the consultation, these substances will be added directly to the Candidate List. However, if the comments reveal new information that challenges their identification as SVHCs, the proposals will be referred to ECHA’s Member State Committee (MSC) for further consideration.

The deadline for submitting comments is 14 October 2024. Stakeholders can contribute by providing data on the uses of the substances, exposure levels, alternatives and the risks they pose.