iThe European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced on January 23, 2024, that it added five chemicals to the Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHC) for authorization and updated the existing entry for dibutyl phthalate to include its endocrine-disrupting properties for the environment:
| Substance Name | Reason for Inclusion | Examples of Uses |
| 2,4,6-Tri-tert-butylphenol | Toxic for reproduction (Article 57(c)) Persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) (Article 57(d)) | Manufacture of another substance, formulation of mixtures, and in fuel products. |
| 2-(2H-Benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol | Very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) (Article 57(e)) | Air care products, coating products, adhesives and sealants, lubricants and greases, polishes and waxes, and washing and cleaning products. |
| 2-(Dimethylamino)-2-[(4-methylphenyl)methyl]-1-[4-(morpholin-4-yl)phenyl]butan-1-one | Toxic for reproduction (Article 57(c)) | Inks and toners and coating products. |
| Bumetrizole | vPvB (Article 57(e)) | Coating products, adhesives and sealants, and washing and cleaning products. |
| Oligomerization and alkylation reaction products of 2-phenylpropene and phenol | vPvB (Article 57(e)) | Adhesives and sealants, coating products, fillers, putties, plasters, modeling clay, inks and toners, and polymers. |
| Dibutyl phthalate (updated entry) | Endocrine-disrupting properties (Article 57(f) – environment) | Metal working fluids, washing and cleaning products, laboratory chemicals, and polymers. |
Candidate List substances may be placed on the Authorization List in the future. If a substance is on the Authorization List, companies cannot use it unless they apply for authorization and the European Commission authorizes its continued use. ECHA notes the following consequences of a substance being added to the Candidate List:
- Under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals regulation (REACH), companies have legal obligations when a substance is added to the Candidate List. If an article contains a Candidate List substance above a concentration of 0.1 percent (weight by weight), suppliers must give their customers and consumers information on how to use it safely. Consumers have the right to ask suppliers if the products they buy contain SVHCs. Importers and producers of articles have to notify ECHA if their article contains a Candidate List substance within six months from the date it has been included in the list (January 23, 2024). European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) suppliers of substances on the Candidate List, supplied either on their own or in mixtures, have to update the safety data sheet (SDS) they provide to their customers.
- Under the Waste Framework Directive, companies have to notify ECHA if the articles they produce contain SVHCs in a concentration above 0.1 percent (weight by weight). ECHA publishes this notification in its database of substances of concern in products (SCIP).
