European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) REACH list: 233 hazardous chemicals, found in items such as circuit boards, toner, child seats

With significant implications for the supply chain, the ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) added nine additional substances of very high concern (SVHCs) to its REACH Candidate List on January 17, 2023. These substances are found in products such as flame retardants, paints, coatings, and plasticizers.

The Association of Electronic Components Distribution (FBDi) points out that inclusion in the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) candidate list implies extensive information obligations along the supply chain: Thus, products containing SVHCs must be reported to customers and the ECHA via the SCIP database in principle. The SVHCs are potential candidates for Annex XIV of the REACH Regulation on substances subject to authorization, which currently contains 54 entries. For the use of these substances, a company must apply for authorization.

Additionally, the ECHA announced before the end of the year that the EU-wide regulatory REACH enforcement projects from 2023 to 2025 will investigate the registration, authorization, and restriction obligations for articles, substances, and mixtures imported into the EU from outside the EU.

The newly added substances are:

• 1,1'-[1,2-Ethanediylbis(oxy)]bis[2,4,6-tribromobenzene]: Flame retardants, relevant for the following products: computers, televisions, mobile phones, and building materials

• 2,2',6,6'-Tetrabromo-4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol: Flame retardants, relevant for the following products: circuit boards in electrical and electronic devices, textile products, and paper products

• 4,4'-Sulfonyldiphenol: Anticorrosive agent, dewatering accelerator, retention and flocculation aid, developer – relevant for the following products: thermal paper, thermosensitive copy papers, medical devices, automotive and aircraft construction, electrical and electronic devices

• Barium metaborate: Flame retardant, corrosion inhibitor, pigment, fungicide – relevant for the following products: paper products

• Bis(2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate: it covers any of the individual isomers and/or combinations thereof. Flame retardant, plasticizer – relevant for the following products: child car seats, changing mats, mattresses, carpet backings, wire and cable insulations, films, coated textiles, wall coverings

• Isobutyl 4-hydroxybenzoate:

• Unclear function – relevant for the following products: coating products, fillers, putties, plasters, modeling compounds, as well as inks and toners.

• Melamine: Flame retardant – relevant for the following products: magic erasers, products made from Resopal, cushioning material in airplane and cinema seats, soundproofing and insulation boards.

• Reaction mass of 2,2,3,3,5,5,6,6-octafluoro-4-(1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropan-2-yl)morpholine and 2,2,3,3,5,5,6,6-octafluoro-4-(heptafluoropropyl)morpholine: Unclear function – no information on the relevance of products.

(mk)