09/07/2008
On 30 June 2008, the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) launched a new section on its web site to facilitate public consultations which are required by the REACH Regulation. The first public consultation was initiated on 16 proposals for the identification of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) and will last until 14 August 2008. These proposals have been prepared by Member States with the view to include these chemicals into the first "candidate list" of substances that eventually may be subject to authorisation.

From 30 June until 14 August 2008, interested parties can submit scientific comments on the proposals that were submitted by Member States competent authorities to ECHA in the form of Annex XV dossiers. Comments should relate to the hazardous properties of the substances that qualify them as SVHCs. Interested parties are also invited to submit information on use and exposure as well as on safer alternative substances and techniques.

After the consultation period, ECHA's Member State Committee will review the dossiers on which comments were received from interested parties, other Member States or the Agency. If the Member State Committee agrees that the substances fulfil the criteria for SVHC, ECHA will place them on the so-called "candidate list". Substances appearing on this "candidate list" may eventually be included in the list of those subject to authorisation (Annex XIV of REACH or ‘authorisation list’).

The "candidate list" will be published on ECHA’s web site and regularly updated when new substances have been identified as SVHC. ECHA plans to publish the first list by the end of October 2008.

The placement on the candidate list will trigger new duties for producers, importers and suppliers of articles. Producers and importers of articles that contain substances that are included in the "candidate list" have, under certain conditions, an obligation to make a notification to ECHA. Likewise, suppliers of articles will need to provide to their customers and consumers available information on the safe use of their articles containing these substances.

The substances on the "candidate list" may eventually be included in the "authorisation list". During a process of prioritising substances for this purpose, interested parties will again be invited to submit comments. Once a substance is included in the "authorisation list" its use will be subject to authorisation. Companies wishing to market or use such a substance will have to submit an application for authorisation to ECHA. Decisions on authorisations will be made by the European Commission. Other types of public consultations are expected to be launched later this year on proposals for tests involving vertebrate animals and on proposals for harmonised classification and labelling.

• To find out the 16 substances proposed by Member States

Source: ECHA’s press release