The European Commission has published a “roadmap” of assessment priorities for chemicals for possible restrictions. The Commission states that the roadmap “prioritises group restrictions for the most harmful substances to human health and the environment” as set out in the Green Deal Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, and will become the basis for multiannual planning under REACH, to be regularly reviewed to ensure flexibility and progress. The Commission cites the Council (Member States) position for “prioritisation of restrictions for the most harmful chemicals to be covered by the generic approach for all uses and through grouping as an interim solution until the extension of the generic approach to risk management is fully implemented”.
Chemicals proposed for possible restriction are listed under three “pools”. Pools 0 and 2 are chemicals for which restrictions are already proposed or considered. Pool 1 is chemicals under consideration by the Commission, ECHA or Member States but not yet on the Community Rolling Action Plan (CoRAP).
The following chemicals relevant to flame retardants are included in the roadmap:
- Pool1:
- Commission Request n°3: “Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) …. TCEP, TCPP, TDCP”. *
- Commission Request n°8: Flame retardants – group. “ECHA will prepare an overall strategy on flame retardants by 2022, … The substances in scope are in principle all flame retardants, and there will be particular focus on brominated flame retardants and their prioritisation for restrictions. …”
- Potential restrictions under discussion n°4: Borates – group.
- Groups where CLH or candidate listing to be carried out with restriction as suggested risk management n°2: Simple manganese compounds and n°4: Acrylates and methacrylates
- Pool 0 and pool 2:
- ECHA/Commission request: Medium chain chlorinated paraffins (MCPPs)
- Member States: Dechlorane Plus
- Annex II – Overview of Article 69(2) assessments: HBCDD, TCEP, trixylyl phosphates, sodium perborate – perboric acid sodium salt.
Cefic’s Statement on the Restrictions Roadmap calls for a clear implementation process which takes into account impacts on the value chain, and for sufficient resourcing and expertise to be ensured within regulators, in particular ECHA.
* TCEP = tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate, TCPP = tris(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) phosphate, TDCP = (TCPP), tris[2-chloro-1-(chloromethyl)ethyl] phosphate.
“Sustainable Chemicals: The Commission advances work on restrictions of harmful chemical substances”, European Commission 25th April 2022 https://ec.europa.eu/growth/news/sustainable-chemicals-commission-advances-work-restrictions-harmful-chemical-substances-2022-04-25_en
SWD 2022 128 (25th April 2022) “Commission working document. Restrictions Roadmap under the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability” https://ec.europa.eu/growth/news/sustainable-chemicals-commission-advances-work-restrictions-harmful-chemical-substances-2022-04-25
“Cefic Statement on the Restrictions Roadmap”, 25th April 2022 https://cefic.org/media-corner/newsroom/cefic-statement-on-the-restrictions-roadmap/