ECHA Adds Flame Retardant to SVHC Candidate List

On November 7, 2024, the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) issued a news release confirming that the flame retardant Triphenyl Phosphate (TPP) (CAS 115-86-6) has been added to the Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). This addition brings the total number of substances on the list to 242.

TPP has been identified as having endocrine-disrupting properties and is commonly used as a flame retardant and plasticizer in polymers, adhesives, and sealants.

With TPP now on the SVHC candidate list, companies that sell products in the European Market (including Northern Ireland) must take specific actions if TPP is present in their products at concentrations greater than 0.1% (1,000 ppm, weight/weight). These obligations include notifying the European Chemical Agency that their products contain TPP, which must be done within six months of the substance being added to the SVHC List (on November 7) or within six months of the first import or supply, whichever is later.

Additionally, suppliers are required to inform their business customers if they are offering products that contain TPP and must provide information on the safe use of these products. Customers also have the right to inquire whether the products they have purchased contain TPP. Under the Waste Framework Directive, any product sold in the European Market that contains TPP must be registered in the Substances of Concern in Products (SCIP) database.

There has been no update regarding further controls on TPP under UK REACH.

Organisations that manufacture furniture products for the European Market should review their supply chains to ensure that the materials used in their products do not contain TPP (or any of the 242 SVHC substances) at levels above the specified threshold.

Additional information and resources on managing chemicals in the furniture supply chain are available in our Knowledge Hub. In addition, FIRA International, the service provider for the Furniture Industry Research Association, offers a series of modular training courses covering all aspects of REACH.