The European Chemicals Agency, or ECHA, has just put two more chemicals on its Candidate List of substances of very high concern under the EU’s REACH rules. Those are n‑hexane and bisphenol AF, sometimes called BPAF. That means companies making cosmetics with either of those now have new legal duties. If a product has more than 0.1% of either one, you have to tell regulators and consumers a
nd you can’t slap on the EU Ecolabel anymore. This could make brands rethink how they refine plant extracts and how they package stuff.
What ECHA Added and Why
ECHA put n‑hexane on the SVHC list because it can cause specific target organ toxicity after repeated exposure. And n‑hexane is often used as a solvent for bo
tanical extracts in cosmetics, especially plant‑based actives. ECHA also added BPAF to the list because of reproductive toxicity. BPAF is most often found in specialized plastic packaging and in dyes, and the chemical group includes its salts too.
What Companies Must Do Now
If a product or formula has more than 0.1% of n‑hexane or BPAF, companies have to disclose that to consumers. They also have to report the presence of these substances to regulators. On top of that, any product above that 0.1% level loses the chance to use the EU Ecolabel. That label is a big deal for sustainability and green product claims, so losing it could hurt a brand’s reputation or sales.
What Comes Next
Because BPAF’s toxicity for reproduction was confirmed, there’s a higher chance it could get banned in the EU down the line. If companies still want to use it, they might need special licences that let them do so. And ECHA warns both n‑hexane and BPAF might later go on its Authorization List, which would restrict their use further unless firms get approval from the European Commission.
Broader Chemical Policy Context
These additions are part of ECHA’s wider push to cut down people’s exposure to hazardous chemicals in supply chains. Earlier this year the agency added five other chemicals, like silicone compound octamethyltrisiloxane, to the SVHC list for being very persistent and very bioaccumulative. The EU’s carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reproductive toxicity list also grew by 15 substances last month. Some in the personal care industry worry that these tighter review systems could mess with beauty supply chains and put off investment in Europe.
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