Dec. 18 EU: The Member State Committee identifies the first respiratory sensitisers as substances of very high concern

This press release is brought to you by the ECHA regarding respiratory sensitisers.

The Member State Committee identified 23 new SVHCs: 12 through written procedure and 11 at its meeting from 10 to 13 December 2012. For the first time, the MSC identified three respiratory sensitisers, namely diazene-1,2-dicarboxamide (ADCA), hexahydro-2-benzofuran-1,3-dione (HHPA) and hexahydromethylphthalic anhydride (MHHPA) as SVHCs. The MSC considered that these substances are strong respiratory sensitisers and are giving rise to an equivalent level of concern to those of other SVHCs such as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMRs).

Among the other substances identified as SVHCs, two substances were identified based on their endocrine disrupting properties and four substances based on their very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) properties. Two substances discussed at the meeting were identified based on their classification as toxic to reproduction. Identification of 11 substances agreed in the written procedure were based on their classification as CMR and one substance was identified based on persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT)/vPvB properties.

The MSC also agreed by consensus with ECHA’s draft recommendation for the inclusion of substances in the Authorisation List – Annex XIV of REACH. The draft recommendation contains 10 substances which are proposed by ECHA to be prioritised from the Candidate List to the Authoristaion List. The substances are the same as provided for public consultation earlier this year.

For more information and the full press release please refer to the link above.