HSE Begins Public Consultation on Draft Recommendation to Add DIHxP to UK REACH Authorization List

The United Kingdom (UK) Health and Safety Executive (HSE) began a public consultation on September 18, 2023, on its draft recommendation for 2023 to include diisohexyl phthalate (DIHxP) on the authorization list (Annex 14 of UK REACH). According to HSE’s draft background document, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) prioritized DIHxP and included DIHxP in its April 12, 2023, recommendation for the inclusion of substances in the European Union (EU) Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. HSE states that it used the results from ECHA’s prioritization exercise to inform its draft recommendation. The background document states that DIHxP is identified as a substance of very high concern (SVHC) according to Article 57(c) of UK REACH and is classified in the GB Mandatory Classification and Labelling (MCL) list as toxic for reproduction, category 1B, H360F (“May damage fertility”). The background document notes that DIHxP was included in the EU candidate list for authorization on January 16, 2020. It was included in the UK candidate list on January 1, 2021, by virtue of UK REACH Article 59(1A). Comments on the draft recommendation are due December 18, 2023.