Two new restriction proposals for public consultation

1. Germany proposes restriction on diisocyanates

Germany is proposing a restriction on the placing on the market and the use of Diisocyanates as substances on their own, as a constituent in other substances or in mixtures in industrial and professional applications. The public consultation on this proposed restriction will start on 22 March 2017 and ends on 22 September 2017.

SUGGESTED RESTRICTION

The proposal limits the use of diisocyanates in industrial and professional applications to those cases where a combination of technical and organisational measures as well as a minimum standardised training package have been implemented. Information how to get access to this package is communicated throughout the supply chain.

Exemptions are defined for cases where:

(i) the content of diisocyanates in the substance or mixture placed on the market or used, is less than 0.1 % by weight, and

(ii) mixtures containing diisocyanates at higher levels than 0.1 % by weight fulfil specified criteria that show that the potential risks of using such products are very low.

2. ECHA proposes a restriction on lead compounds in PVC articles

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has, at the request of the European Commission, submitted a report proposing a restriction on the placing on the market on PVC articles containing lead compounds as stabilisers in concentrations greater than 0.1% by weight. The public consultation on this proposed restriction will start on 22 March 2017 and end on 22 September 2017.

SUGGESTED RESTRICTION

The proposal is to restrict placing on the market of lead compounds used as stabilliers in articles (or parts of articles) produced from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) if the concentration of lead (expressed as metal) is equal to or greater than 0.1% by weight of the PVC material. The proposal was made on the request of the European Commission. The proposed restriction shall apply 24 months from the entry into force of the restriction.

The proposal was made on the request of the European Commission. The proposed restriction shall apply 24 months from the entry into force of the restriction.

The proposed restriction derogates:

the following article types containing recycled PVC for a period of 15 years from entry into force, if the concentration of lead (expressed as metal) does not exceed 1% by weight of the PVC material:

- profiles and rigid sheets for building applications;

- doors, windows, shutters, walls, blinds, fences, and roof gutters;

- cable ducts;

- fittings for tubes, furniture etc.;

- pipes for non-drinking water, if the recycled PVC is used in a multilayer pipe and is entirely enclosed with a layer of virgin PVC in compliance with the general restriction limit.

Restriction proposals on four phthalates and TDFA in sprays

Four phthalates

RAC adopted its opinion, in support of the proposal by ECHA and Denmark to restrict the four phthalates (DEHP, DBP, DIBP and BBP) in articles. The recommendation is to ban phthalates in articles that cause exposure through the skin or by inhalation, such as flooring, coated fabrics and paper, recreational gear and equipment, mattresses, footwear, office supplies and equipment, and other articles moulded or coated with plastic.

SEAC agreed its draft opinion, in support of the proposal by ECHA and Denmark to restrict the four phthalates (DEHP, DBP, DIBP and BBP) in articles. SEAC concluded that the proposed re-striction is the most appropriate EU-wide measure to address the identified risks in terms of the proportionality of its socio-economic benefits to its costs.

Restriction proposal of TDFAs

(3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluorooctyl)silanetriol and any of its mono-, di- or tri-O-(alkyl) derivatives.

RAC adopted its opinion in support of the proposal by Denmark to restrict the placing on the market of sprays used for the general public containing TDFAs (3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tride-cafluorooctyl)silanetriol and any of its mono-, di- or tri-O-(alkyl) derivatives.

SEAC agreed its draft opinion in support of the proposal. SEAC concluded that the proposed re-striction is the most appropriate EU-wide measure to address the identified risks in terms of the proportionality of its socio-economic benefits to its socio-economic costs.

The products should not be placed on the market if they contain TDFAs in a concentration equal to or greater than 2 parts per billion by weight in a mixture with organic solvents. Spray products comprise aerosol dispensers, pump and trigger sprays and mixtures marketed for spray applications.

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