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On 5 November 2025, in Helsinki, the Committee of Member State representatives of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) identified decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) as a substance of very high concern (SVHC).
This substance is used as a flame retardant in various industries, including plastics and rubber (e.g. automotive components, cable sheathing), electronics (e.g. connectors, switches), and textiles (e.g. seats, curtains).
According to ECHA, DBDPE is “very persistent and very bioaccumulative” (vPvB), in accordance with the criteria set out in Annex XIII of the REACH Regulation. This means that it degrades very slowly and accumulates in living tissues (organs, fats, etc.), with the potential for magnification along the food chain.
Once a substance is identified as a “substance of very high concern”, it is added to the Candidate List. This classification immediately triggers specific obligations for suppliers of the relevant product, including:
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providing a safety data sheet;
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communicating information on safe use;
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responding to consumer requests within 45 days;
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notifying ECHA if the article they produce contains a substance of very high concern in quantities exceeding one tonne per producer/importer per year, and if the substance is present in those articles at a concentration above 0.1% weight by weight (w/w).
