Authorisation requirement for substances of very high concern

For the first time, the new chemicals legislation REACH provides for a procedure for substances of very high concern (such as mutagenic, carcinogenic, or persistent) that are subject to authorisation in the future. The report of the Federal Environment Agency identifies such chemicals and proposes Austrian substances for approval. In addition to the chemical properties, an important criterion for this selection was the detection of exposure in the environment or at the workplace. The basis for the selection of substances was already harmonised classified substances with CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic to reproduction) and/or PBT properties (persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic) as well as chemicals that are suspected of having hormone-like effects. An authorisation dossier has been prepared for three substances (dibutyl phthalate, benzyl butyl phthalate and tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate).