DBDPE Listed As SVHC: Regulatory Shift Targets Widely Used Flame Retardant

Update 5 November 2025: ECHA added DBDPE to the Candidate List on 5 November 2025. The original article follows, written after the Member State Committee agreed to identify it as an SVHC.

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The European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) Member State Committee (MSC) has unanimously agreed to identify 1,1'-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis[pentabromobenzene] (DBDPE) as a Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) under Article 57(e) of the REACH Regulation. This decision, based on DBDPE’s very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) properties, carries significant compliance implications across the chemicals and manufacturing value chain.

ECHA plans to formally add DBDPE (EC 284-366-9, CAS 84852-53-9) to the Candidate List by November 2025, signalling tighter control over its use in the EU, particularly in flame retardant applications.

DBDPE And Its Regulatory Context

DBDPE is a brominated flame retardant commonly used in plastics, electronics, and textiles. Due to its strong resistance to degradation and its tendency to bioaccumulate in living organisms, DBDPE presents long-term environmental risks. The MSC’s support was based on a weight-of-evidence assessment of its vPvB characteristics under Annex XIII of REACH.

The dossier, submitted by Sweden’s competent authority, addressed industry and NGO stakeholder feedback. Although a few industry representatives suggested alternative regulatory routes—such as classification under CLP—MSC concluded that SVHC identification was justified and the appropriate course of action.

Implications For Flame Retardant Manufacturers

Adding DBDPE to the Candidate List means companies will have new obligations, including:

• Notifying ECHA of its use if it is present in articles above 0.1% w/w.
• Communicating safe use information down the supply chain.
• Potentially seeking authorisation for continued use if it is later moved to Annex XIV.

This classification also supports potential restriction measures under REACH and aligns with ongoing efforts to harmonise hazard entries under the CLP Regulation.