The EU expects to add six substances of very high concern to the REACH list of substances requiring authorization.
On September 22, 2010, according to CHEMICAAL WATCH, the EU REACH Committee reached two key authorization agreements. The meeting adopted the priority proposed substances for the first authorization list in Annex XIV of the Regulation proposed by ECHA, but this list did not include short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). SCCPs were not included because the REACH Committee considered that these substances already fell under the jurisdiction of the UNECE's long-standing transnational convention on the prevention and control of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
The following six substances require authorization under Annex XIV of REACH:
• 二甲苯麝香（musk xylene）
• 4,4′-二氨基二苯基甲烷（MDA）
• Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) (and all major diastereomers)
• 鄰苯二甲酸二（2-乙基已基）酯（DEHP）
• 鄰苯二甲酸丁苄酯（BBP）
• 鄰苯二甲酸二丁酯（DBP）
Companies applying for authorization must strictly adhere to the start and end dates (also known as sunset times) of the substance authorization. The REACH Committee has approved all the authorized substance application schedules proposed by ECHA, but because most member countries consider that HBCDD authorization may have a significant impact on downstream building industry users who produce and use polystyrene insulation boards, and that national energy conservation and carbon reduction plans will also be adversely affected, the application deadline for HBCDD has been extended by 9 months compared to the proposal.
Companies applying for authorization must strictly adhere to the start and end dates (also known as sunset times) of the substance authorization. The REACH Committee has approved all the authorized substance application schedules proposed by ECHA, but because most member countries consider that HBCDD authorization may have a significant impact on downstream building industry users who produce and use polystyrene insulation boards, and that national energy conservation and carbon reduction plans will also be adversely affected, the application deadline for HBCDD has been extended by 9 months compared to the proposal.
The EU REACH Committee adopted the standards for PBT and vPvB substances in Annex XIII of the REACH Regulation and permitted the use of "weight of evidence" to assess the priority of authorized substances. The main point of contention within the REACH Committee is the time limit for authorization applications.
In a commentary, a senior chemicals policy officer at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) advised companies to find safer alternatives to licensed substances as soon as possible.
–Source: WTO Inspection and Quarantine Information Network
