SG 069/26
European Union (EU) proposes restriction of partly hydrogenated terphenyl (PTH) under Annex XVII of REACH.
In April 2026, the European Commission’s Comitology Register indicated that a draft regulation concerning the restriction of terphenyl, hydrogenated, commonly named PTH (CAS 61788-32-7), had been forwarded to the REACH Committee for consideration. This draft piece of legislation would add a new entry to Annex XVII of REACH ‘Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 ‘Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals’ (Annex XVII of REACH).
PTH is a substance of unknown or variable composition, or a complex reaction product or a biological material (UVCB) under REACH. It is listed on the Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHC) as a very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) substance. It has a wide range of uses, including but not limited to:
- Heat transfer fluids (HTF) at industrial sites
- Thermostats
- Plasticizer in the production of articles (e.g. cables, parts of cars, trains, planes, electrical and electronic equipment, construction and building components, as well as furnishings)
- Plasticizer in the production of mixtures (e.g. adhesives, catalysts, encapsulants, inks, paints and sealants) and in polymer applications
- Processing solvent or a laboratory chemical
What does this draft regulation require?
Key provisions in the draft law include, inter alia, restricting/prohibiting the use and placing on the market of PTH, with certain derogations. (see Table 1 below)
Who is impacted?
The draft law would affect stakeholders across the supply chain that use PTH, including manufacturers, importers, retailers and other intermediaries operating in the EU market.
When will it apply?
The regulation’s date of entry into force (EIF) will be 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the EU (OJEU) and apply 18 months thereafter.
Highlights of the draft law are summarized in Table 1
| Substance | Scope | Requirement¹,² | Proposed effective date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PTH | Substance on its own | Prohibited | 18 months after the date of EIF |
| < 0.1% | ||
¹Contains derogations for a) civilian aerospace applications, b) high temperature heat transfer fluids under strictly controlled closed systems (SCCS) at industrial sites specified in Appendix [X] and c) defense applications ²Exempts, inter alia, mixtures and articles placed on the market before the effective date mentioned above | |||
Table 1
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