On September 2, 2013 the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published 7 new substances that were proposed by member states for the European Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical Substances (REACH) regulation candidate list for substances of very high concern. All seven substances were suggested by member states due to their carcinogenic, mutagenic or mutagenic properties (REACH, Article 57 a-c). Two substances, namely dihexyl phthalate (DHP, CAS 84-75-3) and mercaptoimidazoline (CAS 96-45-7), are also used in food contact. DHP is authorized as an indirect additive by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but neither authorized under the European plastics regulation EC 10/2011 nor listed in the ESCO working group report on non-plastic food contact materials. Mercaptoimidazoline has been prohibited as an indirect additive in the U.S. but continues to be listed on the ESCO list as a processing aid in rubber production. The deadline for public consultation for the newly proposed substances is on October 17, 2013.
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