In an article published on March 7, 2018, regulatory news provider Chemical Watch informed that Norway has added dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (D6, CAS 540-97-6), 4-tert-butylphenol (CAS 98-54-4), 4-tert-pentylphenol (CAS 80-46-6), 4-n-heptylphenol (CAS 1987-50-4), dibutyl phthalate (DBP, CAS 84-74-2), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP, CAS 85-68-7), and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP, CAS 84-69-5) to its national list of priority chemicals. “The substances on the priority list are not regulated, but it serves as a basis for those to be eliminated by 2020,” Chemical Watch explained.
D6 is used as a replacement for octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4, CAS 556-67-2) and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5, CAS 541-02-6) which will be restricted under REACH (FPF reported). D6 appears to be similarly harmful to the environment than D4 and D5, according to the director of the Norwegian Environment Agency. 4-Tert-butylphenol, 4-tert-pentylphenol, 4-n-heptylphenol are used in glue, paint, varnish, and lubricants, and the former two have been identified as substances of very high concern (SVHCs) under REACH due to their endocrine disrupting properties. DBP, BBP, and DIBP are used as plasticizers in plastic materials and are also SVHCs due to their endocrine disrupting properties (FPF reported).
4-Tert-butylphenol, DBP, and BBP are included in the Union List of substances authorized for use in plastic food contact materials (FCMs) (see Annex I of Regulation (EU) No 10/2011) and listed in the FACET inventory of FCMs, as well as in the ESCO working group list of non-plastic FCMs. DIBP is included in the FACET and ESCO lists; D6 and 4-tert-pentylphenol can be found in the FACET inventory. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is currently reassessing the safety of DBP, BBP, and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP, CAS 117-81-7) for plastic FCMs due to a proposal to restrict the use of these SVHCs under REACH (FPF reported).
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Chemical Watch (March 7, 2018). “Norway adds phthalates, D6 to national priority list.”
