European Commission Updates REACH Restrictions Roadmap

Rolling List of Substances for Restriction

The updated list classifies substances into various pools based on the progress of their regulatory assessments and potential restrictions. Here's a breakdown of the key updates:

Pool 0: Substances with Intentions or Mandates for Restriction

1. Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde Releasers
   • Hazards: Potential occupational risks not covered by existing exposure limits.
   • Uses: Various industrial and consumer applications.
   • Status: Under review to address safety for professional and self-employed workers.
2. Lead in Consumer Articles
   • Hazards: Toxicity and environmental concerns.
   • Uses: Found in a variety of consumer products.
   • Status: Further restrictions not prioritised due to current alternative state of play.
3. Skin Sensitisers in Consumer Mixtures
   • Hazards: Risks of skin sensitisation.
   • Uses: Consumer products such as cosmetics and detergents.
   • Status: Investigative work has begun to evaluate potential restrictions.

Pool 1: Planned Restrictions Not Yet on the Registry of Intentions

1. PVC and its Additives
   • Hazards: Multiple hazard properties, including environmental and health risks.
   • Uses: Widely used in construction, healthcare, electronics, automotive, and packaging industries.
   • Status: Anticipated mandates to ECHA for regulatory action.
2. Ortho-Phthalates (C4-C6)
   • Hazards: Endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity.
   • Uses: Plastics, consumer goods, and medical devices.
   • Status: Potential extension of existing restrictions to additional phthalates.
3. Organophosphate Flame Retardants (OPFRs)
   • Hazards: Carcinogenic, reproductive toxicity.
   • Uses: Flame retardants in furniture, electronics, and building materials.
   • Status: Potential restrictions pending hazard clarification and further assessment.
4. Flame Retardants
   • Hazards: Varied, including potential carcinogenic and environmental effects.
   • Uses: Widely used in consumer products and building materials.
   • Status: Mandates for investigation and potential restrictions based on findings.
5. Bisphenols
   • Hazards: Endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity.
   • Uses: Plastics, thermal paper, and consumer products.
   • Status: Ongoing assessment to determine the need for further regulatory action.
6. Hydrocarbyl Siloxanes
   • Hazards: Persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT/vPvB).
   • Uses: Industrial, consumer products, and various articles.
   • Status: Potential restrictions based on PBT/vPvB properties.

Substances Under Assessment with Restriction as a Potential Regulatory Management Option

1. Pyrazoles
   • Hazards: Reproductive toxicity and environmental persistence.
   • Uses: Fertilisers and pesticides.
   • Status: Under scrutiny for potential reproductive toxicity and environmental risks.
2. Simple Manganese Compounds
   • Hazards: Respiratory, neurotoxic, and reproductive hazards.
   • Uses: Various industrial applications.
   • Status: Ongoing discussions for regulatory management.
3. Hydrocarbylphenols
   • Hazards: Environmental endocrine disruption (ED) and PBT/vPvB.
   • Uses: Industrial and consumer products.
   • Status: Potential stepwise approach to restriction focusing on environmental effects.
4. Petroleum Substances in Mixtures
   • Hazards: Persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT); carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reproductive toxicants (CMR).
   • Uses: Industrial and consumer products.
   • Status: Work ongoing to define scope and manage risks.
5. Formamide
   • Hazards: Reproductive toxicity.
   • Uses: EVA foam products like fitness and puzzle mats.
   • Status: Potential restrictions to align with toy safety standards.
6. Nickel in Articles Intended to Come in Direct and Prolonged Contact with the Skin
   • Hazards: Skin sensitisation.
   • Uses: Jewellery, clothing accessories, and electronic devices.
   • Status: Potential review of existing restrictions for improved safety.
7. CMRs in Textiles
   • Hazards: Carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reproductive toxicity.
   • Uses: Clothing and textiles.
   • Status: Regular assessments suggest expanding restrictions to additional substances.
8. Tetrahydrofuran (THF) in Consumer Products
   • Hazards: Carcinogenic category 2.
   • Uses: Glues and adhesives used indoors by consumers.
   • Status: Consideration for restriction based on German RMOA recommendations.
9. Substances in Fibre Form (excluding asbestos)
   • Hazards: Carcinogenic.
   • Uses: Various industrial and consumer products.
   • Status: Potential restrictions for materials that can release biopersistent fibre dusts.
10. Phthalic Anhydrides and Hydrogenated Phthalic Anhydrides
    • Hazards: Respiratory sensitisation.
    • Uses: Industrial and consumer products.

The updated Restrictions Roadmap is a crucial component of the EU’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. It serves as a proactive measure to identify, assess, and manage the risks posed by hazardous substances, ensuring a high level of protection for both human health and the environment. The road map will continue to evolve as new scientific data and regulatory needs emerge.