European Commission on chemicals policy
Georg Streck, European Commission DG GROW F1 (REACH), updated pinfa on regulatory developments for flame retardants, at pinfa’s General Assembly, 18th March. He explained that, following the Flame Retardant Strategy (see pinfa Newsletter n°170), the Commission has mandated ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) to prepare a restriction dossier for three* aromatic brominated flame retardants and this may be extended** (see pinfa Newsletter n° 179).
The Commission has also mandated ECHA to prepare an investigation report on organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs). This wide group also covers very different families of chemicals. Some types of organophosphorus flame retardants are already identified as non-problematic, whereas more data is needed on the possible health risks of others.
Information is particularly needed on the hazard properties of some OPFRs, on exposures, on End-of-Life and on technical and economic aspects of uses.
The European Commission’s objective is to move from the current “one-by-one” regulation of chemicals to a more holistic group approach, with the aim of providing more certainty for industry, increased user confidence and to avoid regrettable substitution of restricted molecules by very similar replacements.
One possible mechanism which has been suggested by some stakeholders is a “dynamic link”, whereby if one chemical is restricted because (e.g.) PBT/vPvB, then Harmonised Classification as (in this case) PBT/vPvB of another chemical with similar use / exposure profile would automatically lead to its restriction. A dynamic link CLP – Candidate List has also been suggested. This raises questions because the risks may not be the same (uses, migration, exposure …) and socio-economic impacts may be different (performance, costs, LCA …). Such a dynamic link already exists for tattoo inks under EU Regulation 2020/2081 but this is simpler because the use and exposure are narrowly limited.
* DBDPE, TBPH and BTBPE (and two substances containing these), identified as SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) because vPvB (very Persistent very Bioaccumulative).
** 19 other non-polymeric aromatic brominated flame retardants are currently undergoing PBT/vPvB assessment (Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxic / very Persistent very Bioaccumulative).
https://www.frissbe.eu/research/projects-secured for the European Commission DG GROW Fire Information and Exchange Platform (FIEP) https://efectis.com/en/fire-information-exchange-platform-fiep-2/
