EU AMENDMENT OF ANNEX XVII OF THE REACH REGULATIONS (PAHS AND PHTHALATES)

Chemical, Europe, PAHS, REACH

On the 3rd of March the European Commission published Regulation (EU) No 2015/326 in its Official Journal. This amends REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 Annex XVII (entry 50 for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and entries 51 and 52 for phthalates ) , The amended regulation will come into force on the 23rd of March 2015.

Amendment Details

1. Amendment for PAHs

This amendment covers the testing method for PAHs. The new method EN16143:2013 will replace the existing method IPC346-1998 the new method must be implemented within 18 months, during the transition period either method may be used.

EN16143-2013 uses liquid chromatography (LC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to analyse PAHs in petroleum product, IP346-1998, was found to have potential problems, such as detection of asphaltenes in extender oils which may influence the test results for PAHs.

Entry 50 of Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation is about PAHs, restricted use of PAHs in extender oil, tyres or tyre parts , plastic or rubber parts which can be in repeated direct contact with humans. PAHs are a kind of typical PoPs, usually found in petrochemical products, rubber, plastics, lubricating oil, and rust-proofing oil, it is one of the more important carcinogens.

2. Amendment for Phthalates

The amendment has removed the outdated reference to the requirement for the European Commission to re-evaluate two entries for phthalates, No 51 on DEHP, DBP and BBP, and No 52 on DINP, DIDP and DNOP.

Entries 51 and 52 restricted phthalates in children products. Phthalates are the most common plasticizer used in the plastic industry and they are also found in cement, paint, and printing ink. Phthalates have been found to seriously harm human health.

CTI Suggestion

The products shall not be placed on the market, or supplied to the general public when the PAHs or phthalates concentration is equal to or greater than the limit in entries 50-52 of Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation. Companies are advised to focus on the latest development of the REACH Regulation and conduct a supplier chain survey in advance to make sure the products are compliant with the latest requirements.