ECHA Adds One Hazardous Chemical to the Candidate List

On 5 November 2025, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) confirmed the addition of 1,1'-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis[pentabromobenzene] (DBDPE) to the Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). The list now contains 251 entries for chemicals that can harm people or the environment:

CDX has been updated to reflect this addition and it’s now includes DBDPE in its Candidate List database, enabling organisations to track this substance across their supply chains and manage related compliance obligations.

When a substance is added to the Candidate List, companies face immediate compliance requirements under REACH:

• Notification requirement: Importers and producers of articles must notify ECHA within 6 months (by 5 November 2026) if their articles contain DBDPE above 0.1% concentration (weight by weight).
• Consumer and customer communication: If an article contains the substance above 0.1%, suppliers must provide customers and consumers with information on safe use. Consumers have the right to ask whether products contain SVHCs.
• Safety Data Sheet (SDS) updates: EU and EEA suppliers of substances on the Candidate List—whether supplied alone or in mixtures—must update the safety data sheets provided to their customers.
• Waste reporting: Companies must notify ECHA through the SCIP database (substances of concern in products) if articles they produce contain DBDPE above 0.1% concentration.
• Ecolabel restriction: Products containing SVHCs cannot receive EU Ecolabel certification.

DBDPE may eventually be placed on the Authorisation List, at which point companies cannot use it without explicit permission from the European Commission. This regulatory trajectory underscores the importance of proactive supply chain monitoring and substitution planning.