Two Proposals to Identify New Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs)

On September 1, 2020, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) opened the public comment period on the identification of two potential substances of very high concern (SVHCs) due to reproductive toxicity.

The two proposed SVHCs and their potential uses are as following:

Substance Name: Bis(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl) ether 143-24-8

CAS Number (EC Number): (205-594-7)

Reason(s) for proposing: Toxic for reproduction

Potential Application: Solvent for paints, inks and coatings, as a process chemical and as a lubricant.

Substance Name: Dioctyltin dilaurate, stannane, dioctyl-, bis(coco acyloxy) derivs., and any other stannane, dioctyl-, bis(fatty acyloxy) derivs. wherein C12 is the predominant carbon number of the fatty acyloxy moiety

CAS Number (EC Number): N/A

Reason(s) for proposing : Toxic for reproduction

Potential Application: Stabilisers and catalysts in the production of e.g. plastics and rubber.

If the two proposals are accepted, the Candidates List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) will expand from 209 to 211 in December 2020 or January 2021.

California's 'Toxic-free Cosmetics' Act Signed into Law banning 24 substances in cosmetic products

On September 30, The Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act known as Assembly Bill 2762 was signed into law.

Starting January 1, 2025, a person or entity manufacturing, selling, delivering, holding of offering for sales in commerce any cosmetic product that contains the intentionally added ingredient under the bill is prohibited.

The list of banned ingredients includes:

1. Dibutyl phthalate (CAS no. 84-74-2).

2. Diethylhexyl phthalate (CAS no. 117-81-7).

3. Formaldehyde (CAS no. 50-00-0).

4. Paraformaldehyde (CAS no. 30525-89-4).

5. Methylene glycol (CAS no. 463-57-0).

6. Quaternium-15 (CAS no. 51229-78-8).

7. Mercury (CAS no. 7439-97-6).

8. Isobutylparaben (CAS no. 4247-02-3).

9. Isopropylparaben (CAS no. 4191-73-5).

10. m-Phenylenediamine and its salts (CAS no. 108-45-2).

11. o-Phenylenediamine and its salts (CAS no. 95-54-5).

12. The following per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their salts:

    1. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS); heptadecafluorooctane-1-sulfonic acid (CAS no. 1763-23-1).

    2. Potassium perfluorooctanesulfonate; potassium heptadecafluorooctane-1-sulfonate (CAS no. 2795-39-3).

    3. Diethanolamine perfluorooctane sulfonate (CAS 70225-14-8).

    4. Ammonium perfluorooctane sulfonate; ammonium heptadecafluorooctanesulfonate (CAS 29081-56-9).

    5. Lithium perfluorooctane sulfonate; lithium heptadecafluorooctanesulfonate (CAS 29457-72-5).

    6. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)(CAS no. 335-67-1).

    7. Ammonium pentadecafluorooctanoate (CAS no. 3825-26-1).

    8. Nonadecafluorodecanoic acid (CAS no. 335-76-2).

    9. Ammonium nonadecafluorodecanoate (CAS no. 3108-42-7).

    10. Sodium nonadecafluorodecanoate (CAS no. 3830-45-3).

    11. Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)(CAS no. 375-95-1).

    12. Sodium heptadecafluorononanoate (CAS no. 21049-39-8).

    13. Ammonium perfluorononanoate (CAS no. 4149-60-4).

Cosmetic products that contain an unavoidable trace amount of the chemicals listed in the ban would be exempt from this regulation.

The list of banned specific ingredients is consistent with the prohibitions under EU cosmetic regulation, No.1223/2009, Annex II, which also prohibits chemicals in cosmetic products sold in the EU market.

SVHC - New Substances of Very High Concern - Two Proposals to Identify.

On September 1, 2020, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) opened the public comment period on the identification of two potential SVHC due to reproductive toxicity.

The deadline for comments ended October 16, 2020.

The two proposed SVHCs and their potential uses are as following:

Substance Name CAS Number (EC Number) Reason(s) for proposing Potential Application Bis(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl) ether 143-24-8
(205-594-7) Toxic for reproduction Solvent for paints, inks and coatings, as a process chemical and as a lubricant. Dioctyltin dilaurate, stannane, dioctyl-, bis(coco acyloxy) derivs., and any other stannane, dioctyl-, bis(fatty acyloxy) derivs. wherein C12 is the predominant carbon number of the fatty acyloxy moiety -- Toxic for reproduction Stabilisers and catalysts in the production of e.g. plastics and rubber.

If the two proposals are accepted, the Candidates List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) will expand from 209 to 211 in December 2020 or January 2021.