Another substance added to REACH Annex XVII

DNT is often used as a plasticiser.

substances within REACH Annex XVII was updated with the addition of entry 83 for 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT). This new restriction limits the amount of DNT to a maximum of 0.1 per cent in articles for professional users or the general public and will apply from 10th May 2027.

The primary application for DNT in consumer goods is as a plasticiser, often in conjunction with dibutyl phthalate (DBP). Polyurethane and other plasticised materials carry the highest risk of DNT being present. It is also used in the manufacture of TNT and toluene diisocyanate.

DNT was already listed within the Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) under REACH, meaning that companies already had a responsibility to understand how it is used in their products and to meet any legal obligations that applied. However, while its inclusion as an SVHC meant that products containing DNT could still be placed onto the market, the new restriction within Annex XVII means that products cannot be sold if they contain DNT in excess of 0.1 per cent.

Companies will need to be aware of this and take steps to eliminate DNT from materials if they believe there is a risk of it being present. There are a few exemptions for certain applications, including for toys, articles in contact with food, explosives and medical devices. As all of these are covered by specific regulations, the legislation for the individual product type should be referred to for any restrictions that apply.

Publishing Data

This article was originally published on page 2 of the July/August 2026 issue of SATRA Bulletin.

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