ECHA proposes seven substances for authorisation to protect people and the environment

ECHA/NR/21/12

ECHA recommends for the European Commission to add seven substances, including the cyclosiloxanes D4, D5 and D6, to the Authorisation List. Once on the list, companies will need to apply for authorisation to continue using them.

Helsinki, 14 April 2021 – D4, D5, and D6 are considered harmful to the environment and human health. ECHA prioritised these chemicals from the Candidate List because they are hazardous, produced in high volumes and widely used.

Some uses of the cyclosiloxanes are already restricted or in the process of being restricted in consumer products and in most professional uses under REACH. The cyclosiloxanes have been prioritised for inclusion in the Authorisation List as some of their uses, for example, industrial production of electronics and some professional uses such as dry cleaning in closed systems, are not covered by the restriction activities. 

Terphenyl, hydrogenated is considered to be harmful for the environment. The substance is used as a heat transfer fluid mainly in industrial installations as well as in adhesives, sealants, coatings, inks and paints and can also be found in some plastic articles. 

The three other substances – DCHP, disodium octaborate and TMA – are considered harmful to human health. They may be used to replace substances with similar chemical structures and uses that have already been recommended or included in the Authorisation List.  

The final decision to include these substances of very high concern (SVHCs) in the Authorisation List will be taken by the European Commission together with the EU Member States and the European Parliament. These decisions will also indicate the dates by when companies will need to apply to ECHA for authorisation to continue using the substances.

Background

REACH authorisations aim to ensure the good functioning of the EU market while assuring that the risks from using substances of very high concern are properly controlled and that SVHCs are progressively replaced by less dangerous substances or technologies, where technically and economically feasible alternatives are available. 

REACH allows companies to apply for an authorisation to continue using substances included in the Authorisation List (Annex XIV of REACH).