The REACH Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern now contains 224 entries for chemicals that may harm humans or the environment. Companies have a responsibility to manage the risks of these chemicals and must also provide their customers and consumers with sufficient information to use them safely.

June 10, 2022 - N-(Hydroxymethyl)acrylamide has been added to the shortlist because of its potential to cause cancer or genetic defects. It is mainly used in polymers and in the manufacture of other chemicals, textiles, leather or fur.

Entries added to candidate list on June 10, 2022:

The Candidate List now has 224 entries - some are chemical groups, so the total number of chemicals affected is higher.

These substances may be included in the Authorization List in the future. If a substance is on this list, it will be banned unless companies apply for authorisation and the European Commission authorises them to continue using it.

Shortlist Consequences

Under REACH, companies have legal obligations when their substances (alone, mixtures or articles) are placed on the Candidate List.

Suppliers of articles containing CL substances in concentrations above 0.1% by weight must provide their customers and consumers with sufficient information to be able to use them safely. Consumers have the right to ask suppliers if the products they buy contain substances of very high concern.

Importers and producers of items must notify ECHA within six months of their listing (i.e. June 10, 2022) if their items contain N-(methylol)acrylamide. Suppliers of substances on the Candidate List, whether in their possession or mixed use, must provide safety data sheets to their customers.

Under the Waste Framework Directive, companies must also notify ECHA if they produce articles that contain substances of very high concern at concentrations higher than 0.1% (by weight). The notification is published in ECHA's Substances of Concern in Products database (SCIP).