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Substance of very high concern

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A substance of very high concern (SVHC) is a chemical substance (or part of a group of chemical substances) for which it has been proposed that the use within the European Union be subject to authorisation under the REACH Regulation.[1] Indeed, listing of a substance as an SVHC by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is the first step in the procedure for restriction of use of a chemical. The first list of SVHCs was published on 28 October 2008 and updated on 13 January 2010.[2]

Criteria

The criteria are given in article 57 of the REACH Regulation.[3] A substance may be proposed as an SVHC if it meets one or more of the following criteria:

  • it is carcinogenic;
  • it is mutagenic;
  • it is toxic for reproduction;
  • it is persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic according to the criteria set out in Annex XIII to the REACH Regulation[4] (PBT substances);
  • it is very persistent and very bioaccumulative according to the criteria set out in Annex XIII to the REACH Regulation[4] (vPvB substances);
  • there is "scientific evidence of probable serious effects to human health or the environment which give rise to an equivalent level of concern"; such substances are identified on a case-by-case basis.

The "equivalent concern" criterion is significant because it is this classification which allows substances which are, for example, neurotoxic, endocrine-disrupting or otherwise present an unanticipated environmental health risk to be regulated under REACH.[5]

Simply because a substance meets one or more of the criteria does not necessarily mean that it will be proposed as an SVHC. Many such substances are already subject to restrictions on their use within the European Union, such as those in Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation.[6] SVHCs are substances for which the current restrictions on use (where these exist) might be insufficient. There are three priority groups for assessment:[7]

  • PBT substances and vPvB substances;
  • substances which are widely dispersed during use;
  • substances which are used in large quantities.

Procedure for listing

Proposals for inclusion of a substance on the list of SVHCs can come either from the European Commission or one of the Member States of the European Union. The proposals are made public by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and are open for public comment for 60–90 days. If the substance is deemed to meet one or more of the criteria, it is then listed as an SVHC.[8]

Once a substance has been listed as an SVHC, the Agency commissions a technical report from one or more national or private laboratories, which analyses the available information on manufacture, imports, uses and releases of the substance, as well as possible alternatives. On the basis of this technical report, the Agency decides whether to prioritise the substance, in effect, whether to make a recommendation to the European Commission to add the substance to Annex XIV of the REACH Regulation, making its use subject to authorisation. The draft recommendations must be made public and opened for comment for three months before the final recommendations are sent to the Commission.[9] The first draft recommendations were published on 14 January 2009, and new draft recommendations must be issued at least once every two years.

Consequences of listing

The list of SVHCs is primarily a public list of substances for which the European Chemicals Agency is considering imposing a requirement for authorisation for some or all uses. However, there are some direct consequences of including a substance on the list of SVHCs. Suppliers of pure SVHCs must provide their customers with a safety data sheet (SDS).[10] Suppliers of mixtures of substances which contain more than 0.1% by weight of any SVHC must provide their customers with a safety data sheet on request.[11] Manufacturers or importers of articles containing more than 0.1% by weight of any SVHC must provide their customers, and consumers on request, with adequate information on the safe use and disposal of the article, including the name of the SVHC(s) concerned.[12] From 1 June 2011, manufacturers and importers of articles also have to notify the European Chemicals Agency of the quantities of SVHCs used in their articles.[12]

In addition to the obviously involved chemical industry, there are many more industries affected by this regulation: drapery and leather industry, plastic processing, cosmetic industry, food industry, petroleum processing, printing industry, sports equipment industry, toys industry, recycling industry, electrical engineering industry, fine mechanics industry, optics industry, engine and plant production industry. [13]

Candidate list of substances of very high concern

The following substances are included on the candidate list of substance of very high concern. This list is updated at regular intervals by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), with the first substances listed on 28 October 2008.[14] In June 2012, ECHA updated the Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) for Authorization by including 13 new substances. Among the 13 newly added SVHCs on June 18, 2012, four of them (C.I. Basic Violet 3, C.I. Basic Blue 26, C.I. Solvent Blue 4 and 4,4'-bis(dimethylamino)-4'-(methylamino)trityl alcohol) are identified as SVHC only if the presence of the carcinogenic constituents Michler's ketone or Michler's base is ≥ 0.1% w/w. Therefore, all the proposed substances are carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic for reproduction (CMR), which may pose serious effects on human beings.

This list is referred to as the "candidate" list because all substances placed on it are candidates for inclusion in Annex XIV of REACH. If a substance is added to Annex XIV, it is given a "latest application date" and a "sunset date". The sunset date is the date after which the substance cannot be used or imported into the EU without authorisation from the ECHA, and the latest application date is the date by which any applications for use must be submitted to the ECHA.[2]

Substance name EC number CAS number Date of inclusion Reason for inclusion Priority Latest application date Sunset date
Cobalt(II) chloride (cobalt dichloride) 231-589-4 7646-79-9 28 October 2008
20 June 2011 		carcinogen No - -
1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, di-C6-8-branched alkyl esters, C7-rich 276-158-1 71888-89-6 20 June 2011 Toxic for reproduction - -
1,2,3-Trichloropropane 202-486-1 96-18-4 20 June 2011 Carcinogen
Toxic for reproduction 		- -
1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone 212-828-1 872-50-4 20 June 2011 Toxic for reproduction - -
Hydrazine 206-114-9 302-01-2/7803-57-8 20 June 2011 Carcinogen - -
1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, di-C7-11-branched and linear alkyl esters 271-084-6 68515-42-4 20 June 2011 Toxic for reproduction - -
Strontium chromate 232-142-6 7789-06-2 20 June 2011 Carcinogen - -
2-ethoxyethyl acetate 203-839-2 111-15-9 20 June 2011 Toxic for reproduction - -
Chromic acid, Oligomers of chromic acid and dichromic acid, Dichromic acid 231-805-1
-
236-881-5 		7738-94-5
-
13530-68-2 		15 December 2010 Carcinogen - -
Chromium trioxide 215-607-8 1333-82-0 15 December 2010 Carcinogen
Mutagen 		- -
2-Ethoxyethanol 203-804-1 110-80-5 15 December 2010 Toxic for reproduction - -
2-Methoxyethanol 203-713-7 109-86-4 15 December 2010 Toxic for reproduction - -
Cobalt(II) diacetate 200-755-8 71-48-7 15 December 2010 Carcinogen
Toxic for reproduction 		- -
Cobalt(II) carbonate 208-169-4 513-79-1 15 December 2010 Carcinogen
Toxic for reproduction 		- -
Cobalt(II) dinitrate 233-402-1 10141-05-6 15 December 2010 Carcinogen
Toxic for reproduction 		- -
Cobalt(II) sulfate 233-334-2 10124-43-3 15 December 2010 Carcinogen
Toxic for reproduction 		- -
Sodium chromate 231-889-5 7775-11-3 18 June 2010 Carcinogen
Mutagen
Toxic for reproduction 		- -
Potassium chromate 232-140-5 7789-00-6 18 June 2010 Carcinogen
Mutagen 		- -
Ammonium dichromate 232-143-1 7789-09-5 18 June 2010 Carcinogen
Mutagen
Toxic for reproduction 		- -
Potassium dichromate 231-906-6 7778-50-9 18 June 2010 Carcinogen
Mutagen
Toxic for reproduction 		- -
Tetraboron disodium heptaoxide, hydrate 235-541-3 12267-73-1 18 June 2010 Toxic for reproduction - -
Disodium tetraborate, anhydrous 215-540-4 1303-96-4/1330-43-4/12179-04-3 18 June 2010 Toxic for reproduction - -
Boric acid 233-139-2 /234-343-4 10043-35-3/11113-50-1 18 June 2010 Toxic for reproduction - -
Trichloroethylene 201-167-4 79-01-6 18 June 2010 Carcinogen - -
Acrylamide 201-173-7 79-06-1 30 March 2010 Carcinogen
Mutagen 		- -
Aluminosilicate Refractory Ceramic Fibres - Extracted from Index no. 650-017-00-8 13 January 2010 Carcinogen - -
Zirconia Aluminosilicate Refractory Ceramic Fibres - Extracted from Index no. 650-017-00-8 13 January 2010 Carcinogen - -
Tris(2-chloroethyl)phosphate 204-118-5 115-96-8 13 January 2010 Toxic for reproduction - -
Pitch, coal tar, high temp. 266-028-2 65996-93-2 13 January 2010 Carcinogen
PBT
vPvB 		- -
2,4-Dinitrotoluene 204-450-0 121-14-2 13 January 2010 carcinogen - -
Anthracene oil 292-602-7 90640-80-5 13 January 2010 carcinogen
PBT, vPvB 		- -
Anthracene oil, anthracene paste 292-603-2 90640-81-6 13 January 2010 carcinogen
mutagen
PBT, vPvB 		- -
Anthracene oil, anthracene paste, anthracene fraction 295-275-9 91995-15-2 13 January 2010 carcinogen
mutagen
PBT, vPvB 		- -
Anthracene oil, anthracene paste, distillation lights 295-278-5 91995-17-4 13 January 2010 carcinogen
mutagen
PBT, vPvB 		- -
Anthracene oil, anthracene-low 292-604-8 90640-82-7 13 January 2010 carcinogen
mutagen
PBT, vPvB 		- -
Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) 201-553-2 84-69-5 13 January 2010 toxic for reproduction - -
Lead chromate 231-846-0 7758-97-6 13 January 2010 carcinogen
toxic for reproduction 		- -
Lead chromate molybdate sulfate red (C.I. Pigment Red 104) 235-759-9 12656-85-8 13 January 2010 carcinogen
toxic for reproduction 		- -
Lead sulfochromate yellow (C.I. Pigment Yellow 34) 215-693-7 1344-37-2 13 January 2010 carcinogen
toxic for reproduction 		- -
Arsenic pentoxide (diarsenic pentaoxide) 215-116-9 1303-28-2 28 October 2008 carcinogen No - -
Arsenic trioxide (diarsenic trioxide) 215-481-4 1327-53-3 28 October 2008 carcinogen No - -
4,4'-Diaminodiphenylmethane (MDA) 202-974-4 101-77-9 28 October 2008 carcinogen Yes 21 February 2013 21 August 2014
Lead hydrogen arsenate 232-064-2 7784-40-9 28 October 2008 carcinogen
toxic for reproduction 		No - -
Sodium dichromate 234-190-3 7789-12-0
10588-01-9 		28 October 2008 carcinogen
mutagen
toxic for reproduction 		No - -
Triethyl arsenate 427-700-2 15606-95-8 28 October 2008 carcinogen No - -
Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) 201-622-7 85-68-7 28 October 2008 toxic for reproduction Yes 21 August 2013 21 February 2015
Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) 204-211-0 117-81-7 28 October 2008 toxic for reproduction Yes 21 August 2013 21 February 2015
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) 201-557-4 84-74-2 28 October 2008 toxic for reproduction Yes 21 August 2013 21 February 2015
Anthracene 204-371-1 120-12-7 28 October 2008 PBT No - -
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD),
including all major diastereomers 		247-148-4
221-695-9 		134237-50-6
134237-51-7
134237-52-8 		28 October 2008 PBT Yes 21 February 2014 21 August 2015
Short chain chlorinated paraffins
(C10–C13 chloroalkanes, SCCP) 		287-476-5 85535-84-8 28 October 2008 PBT
vPvB 		Yes - -
Tributyltin oxide (Bis(tributyltin) oxide, TBTO) 200-268-0 56-35-9 28 October 2008 PBT No - -
Musk xylene (5-tert-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene) 201-329-4 81-15-2 28 October 2008 vPvB Yes 21 February 2013 21 August 2014
Notes
  • The CAS numbers for groups of compounds such as "SCCP" are indicative. Such groups can include several compounds, each of which has a different CAS number.
  • PBT = persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic
  • vPvB = very persistent and very bioaccumulative

References

  1. ^ Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency. OJEC L396, 30.12.2006, pp. 1–849.
  2. ^ a b Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern for authorisation
  3. ^ Article 57, REACH Regulation, at pp. 141–42.
  4. ^ a b Annex XIII, REACH Regulation, at pp. 383–85.
  5. ^ European Chemicals Agency. "Proposals to identify Substances of Very High Concern current consultations". Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  6. ^ Annex XVII, REACH Regulation, at pp. 395–849.
  7. ^ Article 58.3, REACH Regulation, at p. 144–45.
  8. ^ Article 59, REACH Regulation, at pp. 146–48.
  9. ^ Article 58, REACH Regulation, at pp. 143–46.
  10. ^ Article 31.1, REACH Regulation, at p. 107.
  11. ^ Article 31.3, REACH Regulation, at p. 108.
  12. ^ a b Article 7, REACH Regulation, at pp. 63–66.
  13. ^ "REACH Compliance. Made Easy" (PDF). TÜV Rheinland. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  14. ^ Decision ED/67/2008.
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