The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has announced its
surveillance activities in 2022 will include checking for hazardous chemicals
in consumer products under both:
- Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 ‘Registration, Evaluation, Authorization
and Restriction of Chemicals’ (REACH) – a comprehensive piece of chemical
management legislation - POPs recast Regulation – covering specific control measures
relating to persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
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The announcement was made on July 1, 2020 and the enforcement
project is expected to be:
- Prepared – 2021
- Carried out – 2022
- Report – 2023
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The intention is to broaden the scope of control and strengthen
the protection of EU citizens and the environment. It will therefore look at specific
types of material such as plastic, rubber and/or textiles.
The scope of the study may also include:
- Phthalates
- Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and its derivatives (PFOS)
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The project will also check REACH duties on substances of very
high concern (SVHCs) in articles for the purpose of communication in the supply
chain.
Stakeholders should be aware there are currently 209 SVHCs on the
Candidate List, which will trigger certain legal obligations for importers,
producers and suppliers of an article containing these substances:
- Article 3 of REACH defines ‘article’ as an object which during
production is given a special shape, surface or design which determines its
function to a greater degree than does its chemical composition - Article 33 of REACH requires suppliers of an article containing a
substance on the Candidate List in a concentration of more than 0.1% must
provide the recipient of the article (industrial or professional users, or
distributors being supplied with an
article but does not include consumers) with sufficient information,
available to the supplier, to allow the safe use of the article, including as a
minimum, the name of the SVHC. This equivalent information should be supplied,
free of charge, to consumers within 45 days if it is requested
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From January 5, 2021, suppliers of articles containing SVHCs on
the Candidate List in a concentration of more than 0.1% will also be obliged to
submit information on these articles to the Substance of Concern in Products
Database (SCIP Database). This obligation was established under amended
Directive 2008/98/EC (Waste Framework Directive, WFD). It relates to EU
producers, assemblers, importers, distributors and other actors in the supply
chain placing articles on the market. It does not apply to economic operators
who exclusively supply direct to the consumer.
Manufacturers and suppliers are now advised to check their
products are compliant with the provisions in all EU regulations.
SGS Consumer Product Services
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comprehensive range of consumer products. Learn more about SGS’s Consumer Product Services.
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For further information contact:
Hingwo
Tsang
Global Information and Innovation Manager
Tel:(+852) 2774 7420
Email: crs.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/cgnr
LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail
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