On March 16, 2020, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published a press release informing about the opinions recently adopted by its Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) and the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC).
SEAC has adopted its final opinion on the restriction proposal for the siloxanes octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4, CAS 556-67-2), decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5, CAS 541-02-6), and dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (D6, CAS 540-97-6). The committee supports the proposal by ECHA “to restrict the placing on the market of D4, D5 and D6 as substances, as constituents of other substances, or in mixtures in a concentration equal or greater than 0.1% w/w of each substance.”
Both SEAC and RAC have adopted opinions on perfluorohexane sulphonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and related substances as well as on formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers. In the SEAC opinion. These opinions support the restriction of “the manufacture or placing on the market of PFHxS [CAS 355-46-4] (linear or branched), its salts or related substances; and as a constituent of another substance, in a mixture or in articles.”
SEAC and RAC opinions on formaldehyde (CAS 50-00-0) and articles releasing formaldehyde also support ECHA’s restriction proposal, however, the RAC reduced the proposed limit on formaldehyde that can be released from an article from 0.1 mg/m3 to 0.05 mg/m3.
A 60-day consultation period will be launched on the SEAC opinions for PFHxS and formaldehyde on March 25, 2020. All of the opinions are set to be published on the RAC and SEAC pages in the near future.
Read more
ECHA (March 16, 2020). “ECHA’s committees conclude on five restrictions.”
ECHA (March 16, 2020). “Annex to a news release ECHA/NR/20/09.” (pdf)
ECHA (June 4, 2020). “Echa postpones decision on draft opinion for formaldehyde restriction.”
