HELSINKI – The European Chemicals Agency has responded to growing pressure to further restrict the usage of the phthalate DEHP - a plasticiser used for making PVC soft and pliable - and has unanimously agreed to identify DEHP as a Substance of Very High Concern (SVHCs) due to its "endocrine disrupting properties in the environment." KEMI, the Swedish chemicals agency, recently claimed that current measures to reduce the use of four phthalates currently listed on Annex XIV of REACH - DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP – do not go far enough and called for further rules at EU and national levels to restrict their usage further. Denmark has also argued for several years that these four phthalates should be identified as SVHCs for their endocrine disrupting properties for human health and the environment. All four phthalates are already listed in the Candidate List and Authorisation List due to their toxic for reproduction properties.
