Posted on June 24, 2010 by David Wagner

In the EU, 8 More Substances Added to the REACH Candidate List

This post was written by David Wagner.

On June 18, the European Chemicals Agency added eight substances to its Candidate List of “Substances of Very High Concern” under REACH, bringing the total to 38. A chemical’s placement on the Candidate List may lead to the phase out or restriction of that substance. The newly added substances are ammonium dichromate, boric acid, disodium tetraborate, potassium chromate, potassium dichromate, sodium chromate, tetraboron disodium heptaoxide, and trichloroethylene.

Although these substances are not formally restricted, the addition of substances to the Candidate List triggers obligations for manufacturers and importers. Most noteworthy is the requirement to provide safety data sheets to their customers for listed substances. Producers of products containing the substances must also provide safe-use information to consumers on request.  Additional obligations, including future requirements, can be found here.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted on February 4, 2010 by David Wagner

In the EU, 14 Substances are Added to Candidate List for Restriction under REACH

This post was written by Todd Maiden and David Wagner.

On January 13, 2010, the European Chemicals Agency added 14 substances to its Candidate List of “Substances of Very High Concern” under REACH, nearly doubling the original list of 16. The determination to include new substances on the Candidate List was based on their hazardous properties, the volumes used and the likelihood of exposure to humans or the environment.

A chemical’s placement on the candidate list may lead to the phase out or restriction of that substance. Fifteen chemicals were placed on the Candidate List in October 2008 and, of those, seven were proposed for phase out or restriction in June 2009. The European Commission has not yet adopted a decision banning or restricting any of the substances.

The listing, however, does triggers immediate obligations. For example, suppliers of articles in the EU that contain substances on the Candidate List in a concentration above 0.1% have to provide sufficient information to allow safe use of the article to their customers or upon request, to a consumer within 45 days of the receipt of the request. Suppliers of substances on the Candidate List also have to provide their customers with a safety data sheet. Additional obligations, including future requirements, can be found here.

The 14 substances added to the Candidate List are five variations of anthracene oil and paste, a form of coal tar used in manufacturing electrodes, aluminosilicate refractory ceramic fibers, zirconia aluminosilicate, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, diisobutyl phthalate, lead chromate, tris(2-chloroethyl)phosphate, and two lead-based pigments.
Tags: , , , ,