ECHA (European Chemical Agency) has proposed nine additional chemicals for “authorisation” under REACH Annex XIV (SVHC Substances of Very High Concern) because considered toxic for reproduction. These include the plastic additive Trixylyl phosphate, used in the past as a flame retardant.
“ECHA proposes 9 substances for authorisation – PR/16/14” 10th November 2016 https://echa.europa.eu/-/echa-proposes-nine-substances-for-authorisation
ECHA CoRAP: REACH chemicals plan. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has updated its draft CoRAP list (Community Rolling Action Plan, update 2017-2019), which “contains substances suspected of posing a risk to human health or the environment” and which are proposed for evaluation. The new proposed list now contains 117 chemicals (22 are newly added), of which a number are flame retardants/synergists.
The flame retardants /synergists on the CoRAP list are:New entries:
– 2,2-dimethylpropan-1-ol, tribromo derivative EC# 253-057-0
– 1,1′-(isopropylidene)bis[3,5-dibromo-4-(2,3-dibromo-2-methylpropoxy)benzene] EC# 306-832-3
– Tris[2-chloro-1-(chloromethyl)ethyl] phosphate (TDPP) EC# 237-159-2
Already in CoRAP list:
– Zinc oxide EC# 215-222-5
– 1,1′-(isopropylidene)bis[3,5-dibromo-4-(2,3-dibromopropoxy)benzene] EC# 244-617-5
– Dipotassium tetraborate EC# 215-575-5
– N,N’-ethylenebis(3,4,5,6-tetrabromophthalimide EC# 251-118-6
– Triphenyl phosphate TPP EC# 204-112-2
– Tris(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) phosphate (TCPP) EC# 911-815-4
– Diantimony trioxide EC# 215-175-0
– bis(2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate EC# 247-426-5 ECHA Draft Community Rolling Action Plan (CoRAP) update for years 2017-2019, 27th October 2016 https://echa.europa.eu/fr/information-on-chemicals/evaluation/community-rolling-action-plan/draft-corap
US EPA selects two flame retardants under new TCSA. The US Environmental Protection Agency has announced five types of chemical for fast tracking under the newly updated TCSA (Toxic Substances Control Act), see pinfa Newsletter n°69. Of these, two are flame retardants. Under the new TCSA provisions, EPA must now take “expedited action” on these chemicals, to identify where they are used and to “move directly to propose limitations on their use” (at the latest by June 2019).
The two flame retardants on the EPA TCSA list are:
– DecaBDE (Decabromodiphenyl ether)
– Tris (4-isopropylphenyl) phosphate.
“EPA Acts on New Chemical Law to Fast-Track Five Chemicals”, 11th October 2016 https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-acts-new-chemical-law-fast-track-five-chemicals-0
Flame retardant market reports: Value Market Research have published a report on global “low smoke halogen-free (LSZH)” cables. This market is indicated to be developing strongly because of advantages of fire safety, as such cables emit limited smoke and reduced toxic or corrosive gases in case of fire, in particular for polyethylene and thermoplastic polyurethane cable sheaths. A further report by QY Research covers the European flame retardants market, through to 2011.
“Global Low Smoke Halogen-Free Cable Materials Market Research Report – Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2014 – 2021”, Value Market Research, Dec. 2016 http://www.decisiondatabases.com/ip/53-low-smoke-halogen-free-cable-materials-market-research-report
“Europe Flame Retardant Chemicals Market Report 2016”, QY Research, Nov. 2016 http://www.decisiondatabases.com/ip/4961-europe-flame-retardant-chemicals-industry-market-report