Highlights from ECHA’s Member State Committee October Meeting
DBDPE Identified as a Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC)
Helsinki, 9 October 2025 – The European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) Member State Committee (MSC) has agreed to identify 1,1′-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis[pentabromobenzene] (DBDPE) — EC 284-366-9, CAS 84852-53-9 — as a Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) due to its very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) properties.
ECHA plans to include DBDPE in the Candidate List in November 2025. This step represents a significant milestone in strengthening the EU’s chemical safety framework.
Contribution to Brominated Flame Retardant Restriction Work
The identification of DBDPE as an SVHC marks an important development supporting potential restriction measures on brominated flame retardants. This classification will enhance regulatory consistency and contribute to the effective control of substances posing long-term environmental and human health risks.
Moreover, this decision aligns with the timetable for the possible inclusion of DBDPE in the harmonised classification and labelling list under the CLP Regulation, ensuring consistent regulation across the European Union.
Additional Substance and Dossier Evaluations
Apart from the DBDPE decision, the Member State Committee also reached agreement—through a written procedure—on two substance evaluations and one dossier evaluation. These assessments form part of ECHA’s ongoing efforts to ensure compliance, improve data quality, and protect human health and the environment.
Regulatory Outlook and Industry Implications
The October 2025 meeting of the ECHA Member State Committee once again underlined the agency’s commitment to strengthening REACH and CLP regulations, enhancing chemical transparency, and promoting the safe management of substances.
With the upcoming inclusion of DBDPE in the Candidate List, manufacturers, importers, and downstream users will need to review and update their notification and communication obligations accordingly.