MSC agrees on the identification of DBDPE as a Substance of Very High Concern
The Member State Committee (MSC) supports the inclusion of DBDPE in the Candidate List due to its vPvB properties
30 Oct 2025On October 9, 2025, the Member State Committee (MSC) unanimously agreed on the identification of 1,1'-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis[pentabromobenzene] (DBDPE) (CAS 84852-53-9, EC 284-366-9) as a Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) due to its very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) properties, in accordance with Article 57(e) of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH).
According to ECHA’s communication, the official inclusion of DBDPE in the Candidate List is expected by November 2025, which is an unusual update period, as the list is typically revised in January and June/July.
Specifically, DBDPE is a brominated flame retardant introduced in the 1990s as a substitute for decabromodiphenyl ether (DecaBDE). It is used as a chemical additive in various industrial applications, including:
- Plastic polymers: HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene), ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), resins, elastomers, adhesives, and sealants;
- Electronics and electrical engineering: printed circuit boards, cable and wire coatings, casings for electronic devices;
- Textiles: flame-retardant coatings.
In addition to the obligations arising from its future inclusion in the Candidate List, the identification of DBDPE as an SVHC may support regulatory initiatives aimed at restricting brominated flame retardants. Furthermore, this identification could lead to a future proposal for harmonized classification and inclusion in Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP). In fact, DBDPE is currently listed in the ECHA C&L Inventory only with voluntarily notified classifications by companies and is not subject to harmonized classification at the EU level.