European Chemicals Agency, 2 November 2023

Investigation Report on PVC and PVC additives

PVC and its additives have been under regulatory scrutiny in the past decade. Certain additives in PVC, such as cadmium- and lead-based stabilisers and certain phthalates, have been concluded to pose an unacceptable risk to human health and the environment and are now restricted under REACH. The PVC industry has also taken an active role by phasing out those substances even before the regulatory measures were implemented.

Nevertheless, there are growing concerns that the alternative substances used to replace the restricted additives may themselves pose risks. Furthermore, potential risks may also arise from the manufacturing of PVC. The possible impact on circular economy of legacy additives in PVC has also been raised recently.

Consequently, the Commission requested ECHA to collect information on the potential risk to human health and the environment posed by PVC additives and PVC itself, including an assessment of the socio-economic impacts of potential risk management measures (EC, 2022).