1,1′-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis[pentabromobenzene] (DBDPE) was added to ECHA’s Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHC) on 5th November 2025. The reason for inclusion on the candidate list was due to DBDPE meeting the classification criteria as very persistent and very bioaccumulative, vPvB (Article 57e).
The classification of DBDPE as vPvB was determined by the Swedish Chemical Agency on the 4th November 2024 as DBDPE was found to persist in the aquatic environment for more than 6 months and presence of DBDPE was found in the Arctic and Antarctic. This evidence supports classification of DBDPE as very persistent. DBDPE was deemed very bioaccumulative due to terrestrial studies showing biomagnification of DBDPE through food webs as well as transfer of DBDPE via the placenta and breast milk. Overall, the studies provide sufficient evidence that DBDPE meets the threshold for classification as vPvB.
Currently, DBDPE is manufactured/imported in the European Economic Area at volumes ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 tonnes per year and is found in a wide variety of products such as adhesives, ink toner, and personal care products. DBDPE is commonly added to polymers to prevent or slow the growth of fire and is most frequently used aromatic brominated flame retardant on the European market.
ECHA therefore claim that DBDPE’s identification as an SVHC will support the potential restriction work on brominated flame retardants. This is due to DBDPE being one of the substances included in the group of brominated flame retardants. Two calls for evidence collected information on brominated flame retardants and the findings were reported to the European Commission in December 2024. The Commission will now decide whether to request ECHA to draft a regulatory restriction proposal for brominated flame retardants.
DBDPE may also be placed on the REACH authorisation list in future which will mean that use of the substance will need to be applied for and approved by the European Commission. Currently, DBDPE has only been added to the Candidate List of SVHCs so any further regulatory actions such as authorisation are likely to be several years away.
Nevertheless, there are several consequences of DBDPE being added to the Candidate List with companies having legal obligations when their substance is included – either on its own, in mixtures or in articles – in the Candidate List.
If an article, mixture or substance contains DBDPE above a concentration of 0.1 % (weight by weight), suppliers are legally obligated to notify customers that they use DBDPE as well as provide instructions on safe use, typically provided in the SDS.
Furthermore, companies using DBDPE in articles must also notify ECHA by submitting a SCIP notification within 6 months of the DBDPE’s inclusion on the Candidate List (5th November 2025).
Outside of REACH, companies also face obligations to notify ECHA under the Waste Framework Directive if they produce articles which contain DBDPE above a concentration above 0.1 % (weight by weight). The notification is published in ECHA’s database of substances of concern in products (SCIP).
Also, under the EU Ecolabel Regulation, products containing SVHCs cannot have the ecolabel award.
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Published November 10th, 2025
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