The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA, Helsinki / Finland; http://echa.europa.eu) has recommended strict controls for seven substances considered a risk to the public. The European Commission will make the final decision on whether these “substances of very high concern” should be included in the authorisation list under the REACH chemicals regulations. In future, substances on this list can only be used within the EU when “authorised” for specific purposes.

The list of seven substances, prioritised from a list of 15 candidate substances, includes three plasticisers: bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), benzylbutylphthalate (BBP) and dibutylphthalate (DBP). Also on the list are hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), a flame retardant used in PS, and 4,4`-diaminodiphenylmethane (MDA), a hardener used in epoxy resins and adhesives. “I see this first science-based recommendation of substances for authorisation as an important milestone,” says Geert Dancet, ECHA’s executive director. “The protection of human health and the environment is at the heart of REACH and submitting the use of these seven problematic substances to authorisation moves us one step closer to that goal.”

ECHA is the EU regulatory body responsible for running the REACH regulations.

e-Service:
ECHA statement containing details of substances as PDF document (76 KB)