SVHC ,“Substance of Very High Concern”, refers to any substance that has adverse effects on human health and the environment.

ECHA released the Community Rolling Action Plan (CoRAP) for the years 2024-2026, which updates a list of 28 substances suspected to pose risks to human health and the environment for evaluation by the competent authorities of 11 Member States.

EPA announced that it has finished the risk management rule under the updated existing chemical review process in Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), banning the manufacture, import, processing, distribution and use of chrysotile asbestos.

Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) under the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) initiated a risk management evaluation and public consultation for chlorpyrifos, scientifically known as O, O-diethyl O-(3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl) phosphorothioate.

On March 1, 2024, ECHA released two substances proposed to be added into the SVHC Candidate List for public consultations. Comments are welcomed before April 15, 2024. ECHA regularly updates the SVHC Candidate list twice a year. So far, the total number of substances on the SVHC list (also known as the Candidate List) has reached 240.

On February 22, 2024, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) updated its Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Inventory for the first half of 2024. The updated TSCA Inventory contains a total of 86,741 chemical substances, of which 42,293 are active. The latest update adds 23 new chemicals compared to the August 2023 Inventory. The TSCA Inventory is updated biannually to keep chemical information current and accurate.

Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) is a highly surface-active perfluorinated compound with chemical properties similar to perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). Following the ban on PFOS by the Stockholm Convention in 2009, PFHxS has been widely used as a substitute in various products. However, PFHxS is persistent in the environment, capable of long-range transport, and may cause developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity. At the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention (SC COP-10), PFHxS, its salts, and related compounds were listed in Annex A of the Convention for elimination, with no exemptions allowed.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is considering recommending five substances for the REACH Authorisation List. These five substances cover: Melamine; Bis(2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate covering any of the individual isomers and/or combinations thereof (TBPH); S-(tricyclo[5.2.1.0 2,6]deca-3-en-8(or 9)-yl) O-(isopropyl or isobutyl or 2-ethylhexyl) O-(isopropyl or isobutyl or 2-ethylhexyl) phosphorodithioate; Diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide; and Barium diboron tetraoxide.

On January 25, 2024, China‘s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Commerce, and the General Administration of Customs jointly issued a notice on simplifying the import and export control over mixtures containing low concentrations of triethanolamine, which will take effect on February 1, 2024. According to the notice, products with low concentrations of triethanolamine, including non-medical disinfectants, synthetic detergents, cosmetics, and inks, are no longer subject to the import & export control for triethanolamine (HS code: 2922150000), and triethanolamine mixtures (HS code: 3824999950) listed in the Catalogue of license for dual-use items and technologies.

On 18 January 2024, ECHA published a screening report to assess whether the use of these four benzotriazoles in articles, including UV-328, UV 327, UV-350, and UV-320, should be restricted in accordance with REACH Article 69(2). Based on the available evidence, ECHA is considering restricting or prohibiting the use (or presence) of three out of the four substances, including UV-320, UV-350, and UV-327 in articles and preparing an Annex XV dossier for restriction. In terms of UV-328, ECHA is of the view that at present there is no need to prepare an Annex XV dossier for restriction as the substance is expected to be addressed by the EU POPs regulation.