REACH: ECHA recommendation for priority substances published
The European Chemicals Agency ECHA published on 1 June its recommendation for priority substances to be included in Annex XIV REACH for authorization. The agency recommends that the following seven chemical substances of very high concern should not be used without specific authorisation:
• musk xylene (vPvB)
• short chained chlorinated paraffins; SCCPs (PBT and vPvB)
• Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)
• 4,4’-Diamino diphenyl methane (MDA)
• Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)
• Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) and
• Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)
Out of the 15 substances on the Candidate List of 28 October 2008, ECHA prioritised the seven substances based on their hazardous properties, the volumes used and the likelihood of exposure to humans or the environment. The final decision on the inclusion of the substances in the Authorisation List will be taken by the European Commission following the comitology procedure (with scrutiny).
The ECHA recommendation is available here:
http://echa.europa.eu/doc/authorisation/annex_xiv_rec/annex_xiv_subst_inclusion.pdf
The related ECHA press release is available at:
http://echa.europa.eu/doc/press/pr_09_07_annex_xiv_rec_20090602.pdf
The Member States committee opinion is to be found here:
http://echa.europa.eu/doc/about/organisation/msc/opinion_draft_recommendation_annex_xiv.pdf
On the ECHA website you will also find a table providing further background information on the identification, intrinsic properties, manufacture, uses, releases and alternatives (when available), as well as conclusions in terms of prioritisation and the justification for the recommended Annex XIV entry. In addition, a "Responses to comments" document is available on the substances which have been prioritised: http://echa.europa.eu/chem_data/authorisation_process/annex_xiv_rec/subst_spec_docs_en.asp
First published on 08/06/2009
