Everyone’s favourite chemical registry legislation, REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances) has passed another milestone. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has produced its first recommendation for seven substances of very high concern.

The opinion of the member states committee is that seven out of a candidate list of 15 substances will be prioritised. In future, these substances can only be used within the EU when specifically authorised to do so.

Those substances? Here they are in full, from the ECHA press release:

1) musk xylene (vPvB). A fragrance enhancer which is used for example in detergents, fabric softeners and fabric conditioners;

2) 4,4`-diaminodiphenylmethane – MDA (carcinogenic). A hardener which is used for example in epoxy resins and adhesives;

3) short chained chlorinated paraffins – SCCPs (PBT and vPvB). A substance mostly used as flame retardant and/or plasticiser in various applications such as highperformance rubber, sealants, paints or textile coating;

4) hexabromocyclododecane – HBCDD (PBT). A flame retardant which is used for example in polystyrene, which is then further processed for the production of insulation panels/boards or packaging products, and in textile applications;

5) bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate – DEHP (Toxic for reproduction). A plasticiser which is used in a wide range of PVC and other polymers applications, such as for example flooring, roofing, coated fabrics, medical devices or primary packaging of medicinal products, as well as in various preparations such as for example sealants, adhesives and inks;

6) benzylbutylphthalate – BBP (Toxic for reproduction). A plasticiser which is used for example in polymer products, and in particular in PVC for flooring applications, in textile and leather coating, as well as in various other preparations such as sealants, coating and inks or adhesives;

7) dibutylphthalate – DBP (Toxic for reproduction). A specialist plasticiser which is used in particular in various polymer (PVC/non-PVC) applications (such as floor covering or primary packaging of medicinal products), and as a component of various preparations such as adhesives or paints.