On April 14, 2021, ECHA finalized its tenth recommendation[1] of SVHCs to be added to the REACH Annex XIV Authorisation List. The SVHCs are already on the REACH Candidate List; adding them to the Authorisation List will restrict their manufacture and use in the EU unless the manufacturer has an explicit authorization from ECHA for the intended application. The recommendation is now with the European Commission and EU members states for a final decision.
The recommendation includes the seven SVHCs listed in Table 1. Once the SVHCs are added to Annex XIV List, manufacturers and users in the EU will have a transition period (typically between 18 months to 3 years) to either phase out the use of the substance or obtain a company and application specific authorisation from ECHA.
Table 1: ECHA Recommendations for REACH Annex XIV
| Name | EC Number | CAS Number | Typical EEE Applications (from IEC 62474) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) | 209-136-7 | 556-67-2 | Siloxanes are monomers used to manufacture silicones. They may remain as unreacted in silicone polymers and copolymers, used in many electrotechnical equipment product categories. |
| Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) | 208-764-9 | 541-02-6 | Siloxanes are monomers used to manufacture silicones. Residuals may remain in silicone polymers and copolymers. |
| Dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (D6) | 208-762-8 | 540-97-6 | Siloxanes are monomers used to manufacture silicones. They may remain as unreacted in silicone polymers and copolymers, used in many electrotechnical equipment product categories. |
| Terphenyl, hydrogenated | 262-967-7 | 61788-32-7 | Plasticizers, sealants, epoxy adhesives, paints and heat sinks |
| Dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP) | 201-545-9 | 84-61-7 | Plasticizer, dye, pigment, paint, ink, manufacture of adhesive, lubricant |
| Disodium octaborate | 234-541-0 | 12008-41-2 | Wooden veneer sheets and pressed wooden panels (as a constituent within the starch adhesive), as a flame retardant, as stabilizer in aminoplastic resins, and as a biocide in professional and industrial wood preservation. |
| Benzene-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid 1,2-anhydride (trimellitic anhydride, TMA) | 209-008-0 | 552-30-7 | N/A |
[1] ECHA recommendation for REACH Authorisation List, https://echa.europa.eu/-/echa-proposes-seven-substances-for-authorisation-to-protect-people-and-the-environment