Overview
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) recently announced that three chemical substances are under consideration for identification as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs). The detailed information on these substances is summarized in the table below:
| Substance Name | CAS No. | EC No. | Common Uses | Potential Concerns |
| Bisphenol F (BPF) (4,4'-methylenediphenol) | 620-92-8 | 210-658-2 | Used in the manufacture of epoxy resins, etc. | Endocrine-disrupting properties, other human health toxicity |
| Bisphenol AF and its salts (4,4'-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene] diphenol and its salts) | / | / | Fluoropolymers, specialty polymers (high-temperature composites, electronic materials), cosmetics | Endocrine-disrupting properties (human health and environment), reproductive toxicity, etc. |
| 1,1'-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis[pentabromobenzene] (DBDPE) | 84852-53-9 | 284-366-9 | Flame retardant (used in plastics, rubber, EEE, textiles, automotive materials) | PBT/vPvB properties |
In addition, ECHA plans to organise an ad hoc SVHC consultation on DBDPE, expected to begin on June 27, 2025, and close on August 11, 2025. During this period, stakeholders can submit comments to ECHA. The consultation aims to facilitate the potential identification of DBDPE as an SVHC and support the development of regulatory and restriction strategies for flame retardants. Once a substance is officially included in the SVHC Candidate List, companies using or placing it on the EU market must immediately comply with a series of legal obligations under the REACH Regulation: For substances or mixtures containing an SVHC above 0.1% w/w, a REACH-compliant SDS (Safety Data Sheet) must be provided to downstream users. For articles containing an SVHC above 0.1% w/w, safe use information must be communicated to downstream users. This must include, at minimum, the name of the SVHC. Upon request, consumers are also entitled to receive this information free of charge within 45 days. If an article contains an SVHC above 0.1% w/w and is placed on the EU market in quantities over 1 tonne/year, EU producers, importers, or Only Representatives must submit a notification to ECHA. For newly added SVHCs, this notification must be completed within 6 months of the substance being included on the Candidate List. Furthermore, under the Waste Framework Directive (WFD), articles containing SVHCs above 0.1% must also be notified to the SCIP database before being placed on the EU market.What Does SVHC Mean for Businesses?
