Five New Substances Added to REACH Candidate List in January 2025

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has updated the REACH Candidate List, adding five new substances of very high concern (SVHCs) and updating one existing entry in January 2025. These additions bring the total number of SVHCs on the Candidate List to 247, reflecting ongoing efforts to regulate hazardous chemicals and ensure transparency in their use across industries.

New Candidate List Substances

The five substances added in this latest update include:

  1. 6-[(C10-C13)-alkyl-(branched, unsaturated)-2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl]hexanoic acid – identified as toxic for reproduction (Article 57c), this substance is used in lubricants, greases, release products, and metal working fluids.
  2. O,O,O-triphenyl phosphorothioate – classified as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) under Article 57d, it is utilized in lubricants and greases.
  3. Octamethyltrisiloxane – recognized as very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) according to Article 57e, this chemical is involved in the manufacture and formulation of cosmetics, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, washing and cleaning products, coatings, non-metal surface treatments, sealants, and adhesives.
  4. Perfluamine – also identified as vPvB (Article 57e), it is used in the manufacture of electrical, electronic, and optical equipment, as well as machinery and vehicles.
  5. Reaction mass of: triphenylthiophosphate and tertiary butylated phenyl derivatives – classified as PBT (Article 57d), currently, there are no active registrations for this substance.

In addition to these new entries, the ECHA has updated the existing listing for Tris(4-nonylphenyl, branched and linear) phosphite to include its endocrine-disrupting properties affecting the environment (Article 57(f) – environment), strengthening regulatory scrutiny of its use.

Implications for Businesses

Under REACH regulations, companies have specific legal responsibilities when a substance appears on the Candidate List, whether it is present independently, in mixtures, or in articles.

If an article contains a Candidate List substance at a concentration exceeding 0.1% (weight by weight), suppliers are required to provide their customers and consumers with safety information regarding its use. Consumers also have the right to request details from suppliers about whether the products they purchase contain substances of very high concern (SVHCs).

Importers and manufacturers of articles must inform ECHA within six months of a substance being added to the Candidate List.

Suppliers in the EU and EEA dealing with Candidate List substances—whether as individual substances or within mixtures—must update the associated safety data sheets provided to customers.

Under the Waste Framework Directive, companies are also required to notify ECHA if the articles they produce contain substances of very high concern above the 0.1% (weight by weight) threshold. These notifications are made publicly available through ECHA’s database of substances of concern in products (SCIP).

Additionally, under the EU Ecolabel Regulation, products containing SVHCs are ineligible for ecolabel certification.

Looking Ahead

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 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.

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