Twice a year, the European Union (EU) adds new substances to its Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Candidate List. These are substances that may require authorization in the future and that manufacturers will need to uncover in their products and begin reporting now.
On June 14, 2023, two new substances were added to the Candidate List. If either of these substances are present in your products at greater than 0.1% concentration, you will need to report the necessary chemical data to your customers. You will also need to report chemical information in the Substances of Concern in Products (SCIP) database.
You may also want to start looking for replacement substances. If these substances require authorization in the future, you will be ahead of curve if you have already found an alternative for your products.
New Candidate List Substances Added in June 2023
Diphenyl(2,4,6- trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide
This substance was added because it is toxic for reproduction.
It is used in photo-chemicals, inks and toners, coating products, adhesives and sealants, polymers and fillers, putties, plaster, and modeling clay.
Bis(4-chlorophenyl) sulphone
This substance was added because it is very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB).
It is used in polymers and is used in the manufacture of chemicals, plastic products, and rubber products.
How To Remain REACH Compliant
The first step to remaining REACH compliance is to determine if these substances are present in the products you manufacture or in the products you purchase from suppliers.
If any Candidate List substances are present at or over the 0.1% weight by weight (w/w) threshold, you will need to inform your customers and downstream users and provide them with safe use instructions. You will also need to report these substances in the SCIP database.
Also note that if your imported and manufactured substances and mixtures exceed one metric ton per year, you will also need to register them with REACH.
Find Sustainable REACH Solutions
REACH requirements change regularly, and REACH enforcement is on the rise. If you want to keep your products on the market in the EU, it’s essential to understand all your REACH reporting obligations.
If you need help identifying any Candidate List substances in your products, communicating with your suppliers, or maintaining your REACH reporting, contact Tetra Tech’s product compliance experts at [email protected]. We have decades of experience with EU compliance regulations and can help you find sustainable compliance solutions.