The Member State officials of the REACH Commission backed the proposal with regard to authorisation on use of Hexabromocyclododecane (hereinafter referred to as "HBCDD") in expanded polystyrene (EPS) for building insulation at the meeting of October 21-22. The proposal was put forward by thirteen companies from ten Member states.

HBCDD is listed under Annex XIV to REACH Regulation due to its persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic properties. It is also banned under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).

The authorisation grants two-year period (ends on 21 August 2017) because a brominated co-polymer of styrene and butadiene has already been identified as an alternative to HBCDD.

Substance	EC No.	CAS No.	Applied Uses	Expiry Date
HBCDD	221-695-9, 247-148-4	3194-55-6, 25637-99-4, 134237-50-6, 134237-51-7, 134237-52-8	—the formulation of flame retarded expanded polystyrene (“EPS”) to solid unexpanded pellets using HBCDD as the flame retardant additive (for onward use in building applications) —the manufacture of flame retarded EPS articles for use in building applications.	21 August 2017