ECHA Launches Public Consultation on Bisphenols Under REACH

2023-02-16

A public consultation has been launched by the ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) to restrict Bisphenols.


Proposed Scopes and Limits:

The Following substances (having endocrine disrupting properties of the environment) are proposed for restriction:

1.

Bisphenol A

4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol, EC 201-245-8

2.

Bisphenol B

4,4'-(1-methylpropylidene)bisphenol, EC 201-025-1

3.

Bisphenol S

4,4'-sulphonyldiphenol, EC 201-250-5

4.

Bisphenol F

4,4'-methylenediphenol, EC 210-658-2

5.

Bisphenol AF

4,4'-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenol, EC 216-036-7

6.

Bisphenols that will in the future be:

- Identified as substances of very high concern (SVHC) due to their endocrine disrupting properties for the environment according to Article 57 and Article 59 of the REACH Regulation, or

- Classified as endocrine disruptors for the environment category 1 in Part 3 of Annex VI to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, or

- Identified as endocrine disruptors in the environment according to the Biocidal Products Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 or the Plant Protection Products Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009.

7.

Salts of any of the above

Proposed limit

< 10 ppm (0.001 % by weight) for the sum of all restricted bisphenols

 

Proposed Exemptions:

General derogations

Mixtures and articles where the bisphenols are either covalently bound to any type of matrix (e.g. via functioning as a cross-linker) or are used as intermediates in the manufacture of polymers, and for which

- Contact for aqueous media in any form can be excluded during their reasonable and foreseeable use throughout their service life or

- The migration limit in the respective mixtures and articles does not exceed 0.04 mg/L over the entire service life

Specific derogations

Under which the following concentrations limits:

- 150 ppm for the recycling of paper for 78 months

- 50 ppm for fluoroelastomers for 10 years

- 150 ppm for polycarbonates

- 65 ppm for the placing on the market of articles manufactured with solid and semi-solid epoxy resins and concentration limit of 1 ppm for epoxy resin mixtures intended for consumer use

- 500 ppm for leather articles and mixtures used in the tanning of leather for 5 years

 

Period of Consultation:

The consultation on this proposed restriction will start on 21 December 2022 and end on 22 June 2023*. 

 * After that, ECHA will give a final opinion to the European Commission for proposed restriction in REACH Annex XVII.

 

Reference:
https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/c8b82843-d3de-a610-4632-bf3f20e95005

 

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