ECHA Recommends Four New SVHCs for REACH Authorisation List

News Brief

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has officially recommended four Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) for inclusion in Annex XIV of the REACH Regulation (the Authorisation List). This recommendation was released on November 18, 2025, as ECHA's 12th recommendation list.

These four substances were selected due to their inherent high-hazard properties and are primarily used in key industrial sectors such as coatings, lubricants, inks, and polyurethane foams. 

Recommended SVHCs and Their Key Information

Detailed Rationale for Inclusion

1. Barium diboron tetraoxide [EC 237-222-4]

• This substance is classified as toxic for reproduction, potentially affecting fertility and fetal health. It is primarily used as an additive in coatings and paints.

• The recommendation is based not only on its high volume of use but also on ECHA's "grouping approach" under REACH. Since other hazardous boron compounds have already been recommended for or included in the Authorisation List, ECHA is concerned that companies might substitute them with BDBTO, a similar risk substance. This action signals that regulatory risk has been extended to the entire family of borate derivatives.

2. S-(tricyclo[5.2.1.0 2,6]deca-3-en-8(or 9)-yl) O-(isopropyl or isobutyl or 2-ethylhexyl) O-(isopropyl or isobutyl or 2-ethylhexyl) phosphorodithioate [EC 401-850-9]

• This substance is a classic PBT (Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic) substance. PBT substances are persistent in the environment, accumulate easily in organisms, and are toxic, posing a long-term threat and making them a key focus of the REACH authorisation mechanism.

• Its inclusion is intended to control its use as an additive in lubricants and greases, encouraging the European industrial lubricant market to quickly transition to high-performance, non-PBT alternatives.

3. Diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphineoxide [EC 278-355-8]

• Also known as photoinitiator TPO, it was included due to its toxic for reproduction classification.

• It is a crucial photoinitiator widely used in UV-curing technologies for inks, coatings, and adhesives. Its annual consumption in the EU is substantial, ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 tonnes. The subsequent control will directly impact the relevant supply chains, making the search for equally effective yet safer alternatives a core technical challenge for the printing and coatings industries over the next few years.

4. Melamine [EC 203-615-4]

• Melamine is primarily used in the EU as an additive in polyurethane foams and intumescent coatings, also with high consumption volumes.

• The substance is Very Persistent (vP) and highly mobile (M) in water. This poses a long-term contamination threat to surface water and drinking water sources, leading to its inclusion in this authorisation recommendation list. This action marks the expansion of REACH regulation to include PMT (Persistent, Mobile, Toxic) substances, where threats to water resources will prioritize substances for high-risk regulatory control.

Impact and Next Steps for Businesses

Authorisation is one of the strictest control measures under the REACH Regulation. Once a substance is listed, companies face two critical deadlines:

• Latest Application Date (LAD): The final deadline for companies to submit an authorisation application.

• Sunset Date (SD): After this date, all uses of the substance that have not been authorised will be completely prohibited.

Therefore, REACH24H advises relevant companies to:

• Monitor the latest developments regarding EU REACH Regulatory Dynamics.

• Check if their products or raw materials contain any of the substances included in the Authorisation List.

• Adjust their products for export to Europe and initiate the development of alternative substances.

• Fulfill their corresponding compliance obligations.

For more information and inquiries, please feel free to contact us at customer@reach24h.com.