ECHA updates the REACH Candidate List

On Monday June 20th, 2011, seven new substances were added to the Candidate List http://echa.europa.eu/chem_data/authorisation_process/candidate_list_table_en.asp of substances of very high concern for authorisation, taking the total to 53.

Companies may have immediate legal obligations http://echa.europa.eu/chem_data/authorisation_process/candidate_list_obligations_en.asp following such inclusions that are linked to the listed substance on its own, in mixtures and within articles. Of particular note, EU and EEA suppliers of articles that contain more than 0.1% by weight of a Candidate List substance must provide sufficient information to their customers to allow safe use of the article (Article 33 Duty to Communicate). The same information must be given to consumers on request within 45 days of receiving the request.

Additionally, EU and EEA importers and producers of articles containing more than 0.1% by weight of a Candidate List substance may be required to notify ECHA within 6 months of the substance being added to the Candidate List where the substance quantity exceeds 1 tonne per year. More information on notification of substances in articles is available on ECHA's website at http://echa.europa.eu/reach/sia_en.asp. Recordings and the presentations from ECHA's notification webinar on 19 May are freely available at http://echa.europa.eu/news/webinars_en.asp

In addition to the seven new Candidate List substances, the existing entry for cobalt (II) chloride has been updated due to its classification as toxic for reproduction. Cobalt (II) chloride was originally identified as an SVHC in October 2008 because of its classification as carcinogenic.

For more information please see the ECHA Press Release http://echa.europa.eu/news/pr/201106/pr_11_15_svhc_candidate_list_en.asp .