18/12/13

ECHA initiates eight-week public consultations on applications for authorisation for DEHP and DBP

ECHA has received seven applications for authorisation for uses of DEHP and DBP and now invites interested parties to submit relevant information on alternatives to these uses.

Helsinki, 13 November 2013 – Applications for authorisation have been received for the following uses of DEHP and DBP:

Substance name:

Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)

Uses applied for:


Formulation and use of DEHP in production of PVC articles.
Use of DEHP in ceramic sheets and printing pastes for production of capacitors and lambda sensor elements.
Use of DEHP in manufacture of solid propellants and motor charges for rockets and tactical missiles.
Formulation and use of recycled PVC containing DEHP in production of PVC articles.


Substance name:

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)

Uses applied for:


Use of DBP in the manufacture of maleic anhydride.
Use of DBP in propellants in manufacture of ammunition for military and civilian uses, and pyrocartridges for aircraft ejection seat safety systems.
Use of DBP in ceramic sheets and printing pastes for production of capacitors and lambda sensor elements.
Use of DBP in manufacture of solid propellants and motor charges for rockets and tactical missiles.
Use of DBP within a specialty paint in manufacture of motors for rockets and tactical missiles.

  Interested parties can submit relevant information via the web form on ECHA's website. For an efficient and transparent process the submitted comments will be posted on ECHA's website on a regular basis, unless the information needs to be treated as confidential. If the applicant provides a response to the comments, the response will also be published on ECHA's website.

All information on alternatives submitted during the public consultation will be reviewed and considered by the ECHA committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Socio-economic Analysis (SEAC). Based on the final opinions of the two committees, the European Commission will take a decision as to whether to grant the applicants an authorisation for the uses applied for, or not.

ECHA's website contains further information on the uses listed above. This includes the description of the function of the substance, exposure scenarios, possible alternatives identified by the applicant, together with socio-economic and other background information.

The eight-week public consultations close on 8 January 2014 (23:59 Helsinki time) but contributions are welcome as soon as possible.

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