DBDPE Now Added as a REACH SVHC
What are the Implications?
On November 5, 2025, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) added Decabromodiphenyl Ethane as the 251st Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) under REACH legislation.
Decabromodiphenyl Ethane (or DBDPE as is more commonly known) is a flame retardant used as an additive to plastics and widely used in electronic components, especially in flat flex cables.
DBDPE was broadly adopted by the electronics industry after DecaBDE was as progressively restricted under frameworks such as RoHS and REACH and listed under the Stockholm Convention for elimination.
Both DecaBDE and DBDPE have been targeted for restriction due to their bioaccumulation characteristics, with an increasing focus by ECHA on forever chemicals.
Previously, both Canada and Australia have declared DBDPE as “toxic to the environment” and placed restrictions on its use, albeit with time-limited exemptions for use in electrical components (for example until 2037 in Australia).
Implications for Products Containing DBDPE
The inclusion of DBDPE in the REACH Candidate List as a Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) triggers several obligations for suppliers and importers of DBDPE as a substance, in mixtures, and in articles:
- Suppliers must inform customers and end users if articles contain DBDPE at concentrations of 0.1% (w/w) or higher. Concentrations in flat flex cables are in the region of 2 to 8%.
- Importers and producers of articles must notify ECHA within six months of inclusion (i.e., by 5 May 2026) if an article contains DBDPE above 0.1% (w/w) and the total quantity of DBDPE in those articles exceeds one ton per year. The one tonne per year threshold will likely be met by the major electronics components suppliers.
- Suppliers must submit information to the SCIP database under the Waste Framework Directive for articles containing DBDPE above 0.1% (w/w).
- Articles containing DBDPE may not qualify for the EU Ecolabel, reflecting environmental concerns.
Implications for OEMs using Components Containing DBDPE
As above, OEMs and end-product importers will be impacted by presence of DBDPE in products that they intend to ship to the European Union. These impacts will include:
- Administration of the total DBDPE content of each product, including assessment of total imports will exceed one tonne per year.
- Registration with SCIP if this one tonne per year threshold is reached.
- Articles containing DBDPE may not qualify for the EU Ecolabel, reflecting environmental concerns
More generally, OEMs tend to be averse to the use of electronic components that fall foul of REACH legislation, thereby avoiding above administrative burdens.
GCT's Solution
GCT has launched a new range of flat flex cables which are entirely free of DBDPE and Halogen-free.
This new range will assist the end customer by avoiding the administration and restrictions of REACH and will provide a globally applicable, future-proofed option for flat flex cables.
Our FFC page is now supporting the new Halogen-free range of cables. Our distribution offering will be updated soon. Please contact us if you need more information.