ECHA Expands SVHC Candidate List with DBDPE: What This Means for Your Products
In the October 2025 meeting, ECHA’s Member State Committee confirmed the addition of 1,1′-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis[pentabromobenzene] (DBDPE) to the Candidate List. With this update, the Candidate List now contains 251 entries, marking another step towards improving human health and protecting the environment from hazardous chemicals. DBDPE is recognised for being very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) in nature. It is commonly used as a flame retardant in plastics, textiles, electronics, and construction materials. Substance name EC number CAS number Reason for inclusion Used in 1,1′-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis[pentabromobenzene] (DBDPE) 284-366-9 84852-53-9 Very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) – Article 57(e) Used as a flame retardant in various industries While DBDPE helps improve fire safety, it also poses serious environmental and health risks. Research shows that this chemical breaks down very slowly in nature, allowing it to remain in the environment for a long time. It can build up in animals and humans through the food chain and even spread to distant areas, including remote regions like the Arctic. Because of these properties, DBDPE is considered a potential long-term pollutant that could harm wildlife and ecosystems if it is not properly controlled. To manage the newly added obligations arising from DBDPE’s inclusion in the Candidate List, companies must take a proactive and structured approach. Identifying the presence of this substance in products and maintaining transparent communication across the supply chain are essential first steps. Ensuring regulatory documentation is updated and all notifications are submitted within the required timelines will help organizations remain compliant and avoid potential penalties. This decision will bring several positive outcomes. It will help protect the environment by reducing the risk of long-lasting pollution and will also protect human health by lowering exposure to harmful substances. The move encourages innovation, as companies will look for safer and more sustainable materials to replace DBDPE. It also improves transparency, since companies must clearly inform consumers if their products contain this substance. Finally, this action may influence other regions around the world to take similar steps toward safer chemical management. The addition of DBDPE to the Candidate List highlights the EU’s proactive approach to regulating substances that pose environmental and health risks.Companies must now ensure robust compliance strategies to manage SVHC obligations effectively, maintain transparency across the supply chain, and prepare for potential future restrictions or authorisation requirements. At ComplianceXL, we specialize in providing expert consulting and regulatory guidance on hazardous substances included in the EU Candidate List. Our team helps companies ensure full compliance with EU chemical regulations by maintaining accurate and up-to-date supplier declarations and certificates, forming the foundation of a strong and proactive compliance data management strategy. FAQs: 1.Does the inclusion of DBDPE in the SVHC list immediately restrict its use?No. Inclusion in the Candidate List does not immediately restrict use. Authorization is only required if DBDPE is later added to REACH Annex XVII. 2.What concentration of DBDPE triggers reporting obligations?Reporting and notification obligations apply if DBDPE is present above 0.1% (w/w) in a product. 3.When is the notification deadline for products containing DBDPE?Notifications to ECHA must be completed by 5 May 2026.
Identification and Impact of substances of high concern
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has amended the REACH Candidate List, a list of compounds of very high concern (SVHC), more than 25 times. The European Commission requests that EU member states or ECHA include substances on this list. The substance may become a very high concern substance after a detailed review and unanimous approval. The purpose of including a substance on the Candidate list is to promote, so businesses should have the tools and procedures in place to identify them quickly. It is important to choose technologies and substances that are both environmentally friendly and economically feasible. To ensure compliance and customer satisfaction, it’s crucial to control SVHC risks throughout a product’s lifecycle. It is critical for organizations to understand the fundamentals of SVHC in order to understand why monitoring them is becoming more and more important. Article 57 of the directive cites the REACH Directive as supporting the inclusion. To be included on the Candidate List, the substance must meet the following requirements: persistent, bio-accumulative, and toxic, very persistent and bio-accumulative In accordance with Annex XIII of the REACH Regulation, substances must have a half-life longer than the specified period in each matrix (ocean, freshwater or estuarine water, marine sediment, freshwater or estuarine sediment, and soil). As per the Hazardous Substances Directive, a substance must be carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction, have another chronic toxicity, or be “non-observable” at concentrations under 0.01 mg/L (1 ppm). Over time, the candidate list grows, changes, and evolves. Among the biggest impacts could be the introduction of new materials and technologies that bring more sustainable solutions to the market. The first step towards effective change is to understand the REACH Candidate List and SVHC. As a result of prompt identification, less hazardous substances can be substituted for SVHCs, which facilitates compliance until alternatives are discovered. With ComplianceXL, companies maintain a solution that shows the content and hazards of their products. It identifies SVHCs quickly, alerts customers, and ensures compliance with REACH regulations. The resolute introduction of new technologies and materials demonstrating a company’s commitment to human health, the environment, and sustainability is a hallmark of corporate social responsibility and essential to the success of modern companies affected by SVHC and REACH. Get in touch with us today!!!!
ECHA recommends restriction of Bisphenols
Bisphenols are chemical compounds used for Manufacturing various plastics. They have been widely used in several consumer and industrial goods since more than six decades. Bisphenol A or BPA is the main member of this family and are commonly used as raw material in plastic and related industries including housings for electronic equipment like camera, TV bezels and many more also used as intermediates in several industries like printing. One of the key intentions of this restriction is, Bisphenols are identified as harmful to reproductive system of humans and animals. In coordination with EU Member States, ECHA has evaluated more than 100 bisphenols on their impact on human health and the environment through a variety of exposure limits. ECHA experts have listed the following advantages of group assessment over individual assessment of chemicals: It is imperative to avoid regrettable substitutions. The holistic approach saves time by using data on one substance in a group of similar substances. A Consistent regulatory action across all the substances in a group Of the 100+ Bisphenols evaluated, 34 were found to be harmful to humans and the environment, and 26 were found to be non-toxic. In addition, 22 Bisphenols are considered non-conclusive due to the lack of data, and 60 Bisphenols are not to be studied since they are either not registered or registered with less than 10 tons per year, and the remaining are still being evaluated for toxicity. Three Bisphenols have already been added to the SVHC list (Bisphenol A, Bisphenol B, and 2,2-bis(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-4-methylpentane). In October 2022, Germany will submit a proposal to restrict Bisphenols with endocrine disrupting properties, since the consultation period ended on 20th June 2022. Also ECHA has these in its restriction plan. Do you want to know detailed implications on your business and how overcome? Talk to an environmental compliance expert at ComplianceXL, today!
Group assessment of bisphenols identifies need for restriction
A total of 148 bisphenols were assessed by ECHA and member states on 6th April 2022, and more than 30 of them were recommended for restriction. Because of their potential hormonal or reprotoxic effects. Bisphenols are known endocrine disruptors, both for human health and the environment. They are also known for their reprotoxic properties. Since these are widely used, 34 bisphenols have been placed under a group restriction to manage risks. This number may vary as more information is generated for these and other bisphenols lacking information. Bisphenols (bisphenol A, bisphenol B, 2,2-bis(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-4-methylpentane) have already been identified by EU REACH as substances of very high concern (SVHCs). A harmonized classification and labeling scheme is proposed for other bisphenols that have sufficient information on their potential hazards. Many group members need more information to confirm any potential endocrine-disrupting or reprotoxic properties. Group assessment of chemicals has been a successful approach. The advantage is that it can quickly identify which chemicals require regulatory action or additional data, or those that do not require further action at this time. ECHA’s director for prioritization and integration, says that by assessing bisphenols with similar uses and functions as a group, companies can avoid replacing one bisphenol with one that is just as harmful – so-called regrettable substitution. Authorities in Germany are preparing a proposal to restrict the use of bisphenol A and other bisphenols with endocrine-disrupting properties for the environment. The European Commission and ECHA will determine if any further regulatory action is needed once it is clear which bisphenols are covered by the German proposal. Additionally, since bisphenol AF and its eight salts are also PFAS, the planned restriction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) must also be taken into consideration as part of any additional measures. People and the environment are exposed to the harmful effects of bisphenols by these products. Polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins and hardeners are two examples of polymers made with bisphenols as intermediates. Also, they can be found in thermal paper, inks and coatings, adhesives, textiles, papers, and boards. There is a possibility that industrial and consumer use may result in relatively low exposures, as well as professional and industrial uses.