ECHA Seeks Comments on 11 Substances Potentially of Very High Concern
The European Chemicals Agency is seeking comments on proposals submitted by three European Union member countries to identify eleven chemicals as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC), which could make them subject to the "authorization" component of the EU’s REACH1 program.
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Comments are due by October 14, 2010.
ECHA to Consider if Chemicals Are SVHCs & if Should be Removed from Market
Under REACH, the ECHA is required to determine whether chemical substances should be considered SVHCs. ECHA then: (1) places all SVHCs on a “Candidate List”; (2) prioritizes them according to the level of concern; and (3) recommends to the European Commission those which it thinks should be subject to REACH “authorization.”
If subjected to authorization, the chemical substance may not be placed on the market or used in the EU, unless "authorized."
Companies Using SVHCs Have Immediate Notification Obligations
In addition to possibly being subject to REACH authorization, once a SVHC is included on the Candidate List, EU or EEA2 suppliers of these substances face certain notification requirements.
For example, producers and importers of articles which contain that SVHC in a concentration above 0.1% (w/w)3 must provide certain information to their customers and, on request, to a consumer within 45 days of the receipt of the request. The information must include the name of the substance, ensure safe use of the article, etc. Suppliers of the substance itself have to provide customers with data safety sheets. Suppliers of the substance in a mixture that is not classified as dangerous have to provide recipients, at their request, with a safety data sheet if the concentration of this substance in the mixture is ≥ 0.1% (w/w) for non-gaseous mixtures and if the substance is persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) or very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB).
ECHA Seeks Comments on Chemicals’ Uses, Alternatives, Risks, Etc.
To facilitate its evaluation, ECHA seeks comments primarily on the hazardous properties that qualify the chemicals as SVHCs, as well as further information related to their uses, exposure, and availability of safer alternative substances or techniques.
11 Substances Being Considered for SVHC Status
The following are the names and potential uses of the 11 substances being considered for SVHC status:
| Substance Name | Potential Uses |
|---|---|
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | Mainly used as intermediate and as a process solvent in closed systems. |
| 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene | Uses are believed to be the same as for 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene. |
| Cobalt(II) sulphate | Mainly used in the production of other chemicals. Further applications may include manufacture of catalysts and driers, surface treatments (such as electroplating), corrosion prevention, production of pigments, decolorizing (in glass, pottery), batteries, animal food supplement, soil fertilizer, and others. |
| Cobalt(II) dinitrate | Mainly used in the production of other chemicals and the manufacture of catalysts. Further applications may include surface treatment and batteries. |
| Cobalt(II) carbonate | Mainly used in the manufacture of catalysts. Minor uses may include feed additive, production of other chemicals, production of pigments, and adhesion (in ground coat frit). |
| Cobalt(II) diacetate | Mainly used in the manufacture of catalysts. Minor uses may include production of other chemicals, surface treatment, alloys, production of pigments, dyes, rubber adhesion, and feed additive. |
| 2-Methoxyethanol | Mainly used as solvent, chemical intermediate and additive for fuels. |
| 2-Ethoxyethanol | Mainly used as solvent and chemical intermediate. |
| Chromium trioxide | Used for metal finishing and as fixing agent in waterborne wood preservatives. |
Acids generated from chromium trioxide and their oligomers:
| Chromium trioxide is mainly used in form of aqueous solutions. Consequently, the uses of these substances are the same as indicated for chromium trioxide. |
1REACH entered into force on June 1, 2007, and is intended to streamline and improve the former legislative framework on chemicals of the EU. It stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals and places greater responsibility on industry to manage the risks that chemicals may pose to health and the environment.
2The European Economic Area (EEA) countries, which include Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway, have also adopted REACH.
3w/w is an abbreviation for "by weight," used to describe the concentration of a substance in a mixture or solution.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 03/11/10 and 09/04/10 news, 10031140 and 09090420, for BP summaries of ECHA’s previous requests for comments on other substances considered for SVHC status.
See ITT’s Online Archives or 06/23/10 and 01/19/10 news, 10062342 and 10011930, for BP summaries of ECHA’s most recent decisions to add substances to the Candidate List.
See ITT’s Online Archives or 07/06/10 news, 10070610, for BP summary of ECHA’s pending consideration of 8 chemical substances for REACH authorization.)
ECHA notification obligations for substances on the Candidate List available here.
ECHA current “Candidate List” of 38 SVHCs available here.