ECHA to conduct three surveys concerning REACH

On 1 June 2016, the European Commission has communicated with ECHA three investigations concerning REACH:
- to assess whether the presence of certain substances in recycled rubber granules used as infill in synthetic turf could pose a risk to human health;
- to assess whether the presence of bisphenol S in thermal paper could pose a risk to human health;
- to review the derogation for cadmium and its compounds in mixtures and articles containing recovered PVC.

Recently, concerns have been raised that the placing on the market and use of recycled rubber granules for use as infill in synthetic turf, and of bisphenol S (BPS) in thermal paper, may pose risks to human health that are not adequately controlled. The European Commission requests ECHA to assess whether to take measures under REACH to control the risks.

ECHA should finalise its preliminary evaluation on recycled rubber granules used as infill in synthetic turf by January 2017 and the conclusion should be made public in PACT in February 2017. It is noteworthy that risks to be evaluated should cover those resulting from dermal, oral (including from ingestion of rubber granules), and inhalation exposure to the relevant substances arising from the reasonably foreseeable use of synthetic turf in both, open air and indoor installations, by the general population (including children) and professionals.

During the restriction process for bisphenol A (BPA) in thermal paper, the most likely substitute for BPA, BPS, may have a toxicological profile similar to BPA and may cause similar adverse health effects. Therefore, in order to avoid the adverse effects of BPA being merely superseded by equivalent adverse effects of BPS, the trend towards substitution of BPA with BPS should be carefully monitored. The results of the survey should be delivered by end of 2017 and be structured in the format of a RMOA. The conclusion should be made public in PACT in early January 2018.

In addition, paragraph 4 of entry 23 of Annex XVII to REACH sets forth the derogation on mixtures and articles containing recovered PVC in specified rigid PVC applications. The Commission requests ECHA to reassess the current situations and future trends of cadmium and its compounds in recovered rigid PVC, if necessary, to prepare Annex XV to propose a restriction. ECHA should finalise its evaluation report no later than 1 September 2017

The above investigations will affect the further amendments to REACH, for which C&K Testing advises businesses should pay due attention.

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Further information
Request to the European Chemicals Agency