European Commission adds Resorcinol to REACH Candidate List

The European Commission, after a serious struggle, recently declared resorcinol as an SVHC. This decision was made based on the endocrine-disrupting properties of human health.

This decision was made by a voting process where 19 member states voted in favour and three members voted against, while five member states were absent. Those who voted in favor represent 54% of the EU’s population which is short of the 65% threshold necessary for passing a majority vote. However, the vote was passed considering only three member states voted against the decision, this is below the minimum four that makes up a ‘blocking minority’ under Article 16 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). 

Following this decision, resorcinol will now be added to the REACH candidate list ending a long battle of adding or not adding the substance to the SVHC list. This struggle has been ongoing since 2020 when the committee couldn’t decide. An agreement wasn’t made because there were disagreements over if the substance causes an equivalent level of concern under REACH as a carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic (CMR) chemical, or one that is persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) or very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB).

Resorcinol is a high-volume compound used for producing rubber products, tyres, industrial resins, adhesives, and some cosmetic and medical products. And scientific evidence shows the serious effects the substance has on human health.

You can view the commission implementing decision here and the formal voting results here.

Last Update: 2022-02-14