HELSINKI — ECHA, the European Chemicals Agency, has recommended that the European Commission add seven substances to the Authorization List. Once on the list, companies will need to apply for authorization to continue using them.

ECHA reported that D4, D5 and D6 are considered harmful to the environment and human health. ECHA indicated that it prioritized these chemicals from the Candidate List because they are hazardous, produced in high volumes and widely used.

Some uses of the cyclosiloxanes are already restricted or in the process of being restricted in consumer products and in most professional uses under REACH. The cyclosiloxanes have been prioritized for inclusion in the Authorization List as some of their uses, for example, industrial production of electronics and some professional uses such as dry cleaning in closed systems, are not covered by the restriction activities.

ECHA stated that terphenyl, hydrogenated is considered to be harmful for the environment. The substance is used as a heat transfer fluid mainly in industrial installations as well as in adhesives, sealants, coatings and paints, and inks and can also be found in some plastic articles.

The three other substances – DCHP, disodium octaborate and TMA – are considered harmful to human health. They may be used to replace substances with similar chemical structures and uses that have already been recommended or included in the Authorization List. 

The final decision to include these substances of very high concern (SVHCs) in the Authorization List will be taken by the European Commission together with the EU Member States and the European Parliament. These decisions will also indicate the dates by when companies will need to apply to ECHA for authorization to continue using the substances.