The European Chemical Agency (ECHA) has presented its strategy for plastics additives, stating as objectives by 2020 to improve chemical safety, identify all chemicals of Very High Concern (SVHC) and address all product lifecycle phases, including recycling. ECHA considers that this will require regular updating of chemical REACH dossiers (whereas 2/3 of 2008-submitted dossiers have not been updated) and less reliance of read-across.
ECHA wishes to develop an inventory of plastics additives (based on PESTOOL), to map uses and applications (requiring supply chain communication), and to define criteria for determining exposure in product life and in waste (Cefic, DUCC and ECHA have signed a joint commitment to work on use map information. ECHA also suggest that more information on uses is needed in IUCLID. ECHA note that substances which are ‘contained’ in products are recognised to have low exposure potential (in particular, chemicals permanently embedded in polymer matrix).
ECHA presentation at Cefic Plastic Additives Sector Workshop, Brussels, 25 November 2016. “Communication is key to chemical safety: Cefic, ECHA and DUCC join forces”, 6/10/2016 http://www.cefic.org/newsroom/More-news-from-2016/Communication-is-key-to-chemical-safety-Cefic-ECHA-and-DUCC-join-forces/