Official Journal of the European Union published (EU) 2015/1494 to amend regulations relevant with benzene on 5 September 2015.

Paragraph 3 of entry 5 of Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 prohibits the placing on the market or use of benzene as a substance or as a constituent of other substances, or in mixtures, in concentrations equal to or greater than 0,1 % by weight. Before that, Committee of Risk Assessment of ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) considers it costs too much to keep the benzene in the natural gas lower than 0,1 %. Besides, natural gas that is placed on the market for use by consumers and has a limit for benzene above 0,1 % by weight, but below 0,1 % by volume, does not pose an unacceptable health risk. So relevant amendment is made to lower the limit requirement of benzene concentration in natural gas.

(In Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, the following point (c) is added to paragraph 4 of column 2 of entry 5:
(c) natural gas placed on the market for use by consumers, provided that the concentration of benzene remains below 0,1 % volume/volume.)

Designation of the substance, of the groups of substances or of the preparation

Conditions of restriction

5. Benzene CAS No 71-43-2 EINECS No 200-753-785

1. Shall not be used in toys or parts of toys where the concentration of benzene in the free state is greater than 5 mg/kg (0,0005 %) of the weight of the toy or part of toy. 2. Toys and parts of toys not complying with paragraph 1 shall not be placed on the market. 3. Shall not be placed on the market, or used, — as a substance, — as a constituent of other substances, or in mixtures, in concentrations equal to, or greater than 0,1 % by weight. 4. However, paragraph 3 shall not apply to: (a) motor fuels which are covered by Directive 98/70/EC; (b) substances and mixtures for use in industrial processes not allowing for the emission of benzene in quantities in excess of those laid down in existing legislation; (c) natural gas placed on the market for use by consumers, provided that the concentration of benzene remains below 0,1 % volume/volume.