The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has published a list of 306 chemicals is considers to be substances of very high concern (SVHC). The group wants EU Member States and the European Commission to include all the substances in the REACH Candidate List.

ETUC has been critical on actions relating to the Candidate List to date, in particular there only being 15 chemicals (out of a possible 2,000) included on the first list published in October 2008.

ETUC hopes its Priority List will give companies a tool for identifying and reducing toxic use as well as help to communicate to workers which harmful substances are being widely used at workplaces.

ETUC believ there is an important message to take from their list and are requesting Member States and the EC to take notice

"if these substances are included in the Candidate List we could cut the incidence of occupational diseases by replacing the substances with safer alternatives."

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