The European Commission (EC) is planning to add diisocyanates to the restricted substances list within Annex XVII under REACH. The EU submitted a notification to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on September 16, 2019, announcing the draft regulation. It clarifies that diisocyantes would be restricted “as substances on their own, as a constituent in other substances or in mixtures for industrial and professional use(s), individually or in any combination of these di-isocyanates, in a concentration above 0.1% by weight.” Diisocyanates are largely used to make polyurethane products such as foams, sealants, coatings and adhesives. A number of diisocyantes are included in the FACET inventory of food contact chemicals. There would be a two-year phase-out period for uses and an eighteen-month period before the regulation would come into force restricting the placing of products on the market. The restriction is set to be adopted in December 2019.

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Chemical Watch (September 20, 2019). “EU Commission proposes REACH restriction for diisocyanates.”

WTO (September 16, 2019). “Notification G/TBT/N/EU/681.”

Reference

EC (September 16, 2019). “Commission Regulation (EU) …/… of XXX amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as regards diisocyanates.(pdf)

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