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.
Alert EU REACH SVHC List updated – ECHA adds 4 new substances
On 5 January 2020, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced 4 new additions to the REACH candidate list of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) having below properties Carcinogenic Mutagenic and reprotoxic (CMR) Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) Very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) substances The inclusion of perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) and its salts was decided with the Involvement of the Member State Committee (MSC). The PFBS and its salts were added due to its Equivalent level of concern, having probable serious effects on human health and to the environment as per Article 57(f) (human health and environment). With this addition, the The Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHCs) for authorisation now contains 205 substances. The new substances included in the Candidate List are: Diisohexyl phthalate: CAS# 71850-09-4 – Diisohexyl phthalate is added because of Its reproductive toxicity as per Article 57(c). 2-benzyl-2-dimethylamino-4′-morpholinobutyrophenone: CAS#119313-12-1 – This substance is also toxic for reproduction as per Article 57(c) and is used in in polymer production. 2-methyl-1-(4-methylthiophenyl)-2-morpholinopropan-1-one: -CAS# 71868-10-5 – This substance used in polymer production is included because it has reproductive toxicity property as per Article 57(c). Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) and its salts: It’s added because of its serious effects on the Environment as well as human health, as per article 57(f). It’s used as a catalyst/additive/reactant in polymer manufacturing and the synthesis of chemicals. It’s also used as a flame retardant in polycarbonate for electronic equipment. Manufacturers producing or selling products containing these substances in the EU must disclose the presence of SVHCs above 0.1% (w/w) within six months of the latest update on January 16, 2020. The SVHC list get updated frequently with inputs from the Member State Committee. All manufacturers/suppliers should keep a track of the SVHC list to stay compliant and avoid business continuity risks. Do you want to know whether you are compliant to the latest Update? Talk to our Compliance Experts today! Write us at [email protected].