On June 20, 2016, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced the inclusion of one new substance of very high concern (SVHC) in the Candidate List for authorization. The SVHC in question is benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P, CAS 50-32-8, also called benzo[def]chrysene), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon shown to have carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic for reproduction, persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT), as well as very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) properties, as defined under article 57(a-e) under REACH.
B[a]P is not manufactured intentionally, but can be a constituent or impurity in other substances, notably in mineral oil used in manufacture of some food contact materials (FCMs). Mineral oil migration from paper and board FCMs has been observed repeatedly (FPF reported).
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ECHA (2016). “A new substance of very high concern added to the Candidate List.” European Chemicals Agency (June 20, 2016).
