On 2022-06-10, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced in its news referenced ECHA/NR/22/12 that the following new chemical has been added to the Candidate List as it may cause cancer or genetic defects. It is mostly used in polymers and when manufacturing other chemicals, textiles, leather or fur.

Candidate List:

The Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHCs) now contains 224 entries for chemicals that can harm people or the environment. Companies are responsible for managing the risks of these chemicals and must also give their customers enough information to use them safely. Under REACH, companies have legal obligations when their substance is included – either on its own, in mixtures or in articles – in the Candidate List. Suppliers of articles containing a Candidate List substance above a concentration of 0.1% (weight by weight) have to give their customers enough information to be able to use them safely. Customers have the right to ask suppliers whether the products they buy contain SVHCs.

Authorization List and Waste Framework Directive:

The substances in the Candidate List may be placed on the Authorization List in the future.  If a substance is on that list, its use will be prohibited unless companies apply for authorization and the European Commission authorizes them to continue its use.  Further, under the Waste Framework Directive, companies also have to notify ECHA if the articles they produce contain SVHCs in a concentration above 0.1% (weight by weight).  This notification is published in the ECHA’s database of substances of concern in products (SCIP).

Effective Date:

Before 2022-12-10, importers and producers of articles will have to notify ECHA if their article contains the restricted “N-(hydroxymethyl)acrylamide”.  Suppliers of substances on the Candidate List, supplied either on their own or in mixtures, have to provide their customers with a safety data sheet. 

Reference:

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