European Chemical Agency Adds 8 Substances to Candidate List
On December 15, 2010, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) added eight chemical substances to the European Union’s “Candidate List” of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs), bringing the total number of substances on the Candidate List to 46.
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ECHA explains that substances placed on the EU’s “Candidate List” face immediate notification requirements. They could also eventually become subject to the “authorization” component of the EU’s REACH1 program, meaning they could not be placed on the market or used within the EU except when authorized. (See below.)
Eight Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or Reprotoxic Substances Added
The eight substances, which ECHA states are carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic (CMR) substances, are as follows:
| Substance Name and CAS Number | Potential Uses |
|---|---|
| Cobalt(II) sulphate (10124-43-3) | mainly used in the manufacture of other chemicals including pigments and possibly catalysts, driers; also used in surface treatments (such as electroplating), corrosion prevention, decolorization (in glass, pottery), in batteries, animal food supplements and soil fertilizers |
| Cobalt(II) dinitrate (10141-05-6) | mainly used in the manufacture of other chemicals including catalysts; also used in surface treatment and in batteries |
| Cobalt (II) carbonate (513-79-1) | mainly used in the manufacture of catalysts; also used as a feed additive, in the manufacture of other chemicals including pigments, and as an adhesive in ground coat frit. |
| Cobalt(II) diacetate (71-48-7) | mainly used in the manufacture of catalysts or as a catalyst; also used in the manufacture of other chemicals including pigments, surface treatments, in alloys, dyes, rubber adhesion, and as a feed additive. |
| 2-Methoxyethanol (109-86-4) | mainly used as a chemical intermediate; also used as a solvent or a laboratory chemical. |
| 2-Ethoxyethanol (110-80-5) | mainly used as a chemical intermediate; also used as a solvent or a laboratory chemical. |
| Chromium trioxide (1333-82-0) | mainly used in metal finishing, such as electroplating (e.g. hard chrome and decorative plating), conversion coatings and brightening. It is also used as a fixing agent in waterborne wood preservatives; also used in the manufacture of pigments and paints; in catalyst and detergent manufacture; and as an oxidizing agent. |
| Acids generated from chromium trioxide and their oligomers Group containing: Chromic acid Dichromic acid Oligomers of chromic acid and dichromic acid (7738-94-5, 13530-68-2, and not yet assigned) | mainly used in metal finishing, such as electroplating (e.g. hard chrome and decorative plating), conversion coatings and brightening; also used as a fixing agent in waterborne wood preservatives; in the manufacture of pigments and paints; in catalyst and detergent manufacture; and as an oxidizing agent. |
Companies Using Substances May Have Notification Obligations from Dec 15
Effective December 15, 2010, EU or EEA2suppliers of articles which contain the eight substances in a concentration above 0.1% (w/w)3 will have to provide sufficient information to their customers or upon request, to a consumer within 45 days of the receipt of the request. The information must ensure safe use of the article and, as a minimum, include the name of the substance.
Six months after December 15, 2010 (by approximately June 15, 2011), EU and EEA producers or importers of articles will also have to notify ECHA, with certain exceptions, if their article contains any of the eight substances. This obligation applies if the substances are present above 0.1% (w/w) and the quantities in the produced/imported articles are above 1 ton in total per year per company.
The above obligations apply to the substances on their own, in mixtures, and in articles.
ECHA Will Next Consider if Substances Should be Removed from Market
The ECHA will next be required to determine whether the eight substances are of such concern that they should be subject to REACH “authorization,” meaning they cannot be placed on the market or used within the EU, except when authorized.
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" to describe the concentration of a substance in a mixture or solution.