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Chemicals in Products– Challenges and approaches
© Swedish Chemicals Agency, 2016 Order No. 511 184 Order information: Telefax +46 8 50 59 33 99, Phone +46 8 50 59 33 00, e-mail [email protected]
Illustrations by Maja Modén
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Summary•Wearesurroundedbyproducts,athomeandatwork.Thenumberofproductsisincreasingeveryyearandthisgrowthmeansuseoflargervolumesofchemicals.
•Today’sproductsaremorecomplexthantheyusedtobe.Theycontainmanycomponents,materialsandchemicals.Chemicalsareusedinthemanufacturingofmaterialssuchasplasticsandsyntheticfibres,andvariouschemicalsareaddedtothesematerialstogivethemthefunctionalityandappearancethatwedesire.
• Sincechemicalsarepresentinalmostallproducts,theflowofmate-rialsinsocietyisalsoaflowofchemicals.Themarketforproductsisglobal.Productsareproducedinonepartoftheworld,thentrans-ported,usedandturnedintowaste–oftenonothercontinents.
•Welackinformationonpropertiesofmanychemicalsandonthehazardsassociatedwiththese.Weneedtoimprovethisinformation.
•Thereisageneralneedforimprovedcommunicationbetweenactorsinaproduct’slifecycle.Producersandretailersneedinformationonchemicalsinproductstobeabletocomplywithapplicablelegisla-tionandtomakeinformedchoices.
• Informationonchemicalsinproductsduringtheirentirelifecyclewouldenabletherecyclingofmorematerialandensuregreatersafetywhenitisreusedinotherproducts,whichiskeytoachievingresourceefficiencyandacirculareconomy.
• Inordertoprotecthumanhealthandtheenvironment,useofthemosthazardouschemicalsinproductsneedstobeavoided.
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ChallengesWe are surrounded by products and chemicalsWearesurroundedbychemicalsinvariousforms,athomeandatwork.Theyareanintegralpartofourdailylives.Thereishardlyanyindustrywherechemicalsarenotused,andtheyareusedinawidevarietyofproductsandprocesses.Thenumberofproductsisincreasingeveryyear,andsoarethevolumesofchemicalsubstancesandmixtures.
Chemicalsareusedinthemanufactureofproductsandmanyofthemarestillpresentwhentheproductsareplacedonthemarket.Hazardoussubstancesintheproductsmayposehealthrisksforthoseproducingtheproducts,thoseusingtheproductsandthoseworkinginwastehandlingandmaterialrecycling.Hazardoussubstancesmayalsobespreadintotheenvironmentduringproduction,use,wastehandlingandmaterialrecycling.
The use of chemicals todaySociety’suseofresourcesisgrowingrapidly.Duringthe1900stheextractionofmaterialresourcesintheworldincreasedapproximatelythirty-fivetimesover.TodayeveryEUcitizenconsumesonaverageabout16tonsofmaterialperyear,andthrowsaway6tonnesperyear.1
Chemicalproductionandthechemicalindustryhavegrownsubstantiallyoverthepastfiftyyears.From1950to2000,theannualworldproductionofchemicalsubstancesincreasedfromabout7milliontonsperyeartoabout400milliontonsperyear.Thisisafifty-seven-foldincrease.2
1RoadmaptoaResourceEfficientEurope,COM(2011)571final2Chemicalindustryfromaneconomicperspective–developmenttrendsintheworld,theEUandSweden2010.SwedishChemicalsAgency,Report5/10.
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Simplfied illustration of the product life cycle, showing chemicals and products flows.
Anexactfigureonthehugenumberofsubstancesontheglobalmarketisnotavailable,butmorethan143,000chemicalsubstancesarepre-registeredundertheEUChemicalsRegulationREACH.Sofarapproximately13,400substancesexceedingvolumesof100tons/yearhavebeenregisteredasbeingplacedontheEUmarket.3
3ECHAwebsite,October2015.
Chemical Manufacturing
Raw Material Processing
Material & Component Manufacturing
Material Recycling of Products
Incineration
Design & Manufacturing of new Products
Sales/ Purchasing of Products
Use of Products
Recollection & Sorting of used ProductsDeposition
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Hazardous substances in products
Today’sproductsaremorecomplexthantheyusedtobeandchemicalsareusedfornumerousreasons.Chemicalsareusedinthemanufacturingofmaterials,suchasplasticsandsyntheticfibres,somechemicalsareaddedtogivematerialsandproductsspecificfunctionsorfeatures,suchassubstancesmakingsurfaceswater-repellent,plasticssofteners,flame-retardantsordyesgivingthematerialadesirableappearance.Productscanalsobecoatedwithpaintsandvarnishes.Theymayalsocontainresiduesofsubstancesusedinthemanufacturingprocessbutwhichnolongerhavearoletoplay,suchasforexamplelubricatingoils.Thismeansthatchemicalsarefoundinalmostallproductsandeventuallyinthewastewhentheproductsarescrapped.
Hazardoussubstancesareusedinmanymaterialsandcancauseseriouseffectsonhumanhealthandtheenvironment;forexample,substanceswhicharecarcinogenic,endocrinedisrupting,toxictoreproductionorpersistentintheenvironment.Thediffuseexposuretohazardoussubstancesintoys,textiles,kitchenwareetc.canbeharmfultohumanhealthandtheenvironment.Childrenandyoungpeopleareoftenparticularlysensitive.Andinthecaseofsomehazardoussubstancesevenverysmallcontentsandlimitedexposurecancauseseverehealthandenvironmentaleffects.
Notallsubstancesarehazardousandmanyarepresentonlyinsosmallquantitiesthattheyarenotlikelytoaffecthumanhealthortheenvironment.Butformanychemicalswedonotactuallyknowiftheyposeanyrisks,asthereisaconsiderablelackofknowledgeaboutpropertiesandthehazardsassociatedwithchemicals,andthereisevenlessknowledgeaboutthecombinedorsocalledcocktaileffectofallthesesubstances.Weareexposedtoahugemixofmanydifferentman-madeandalsonaturallyoccurringsubstances.Experienceshowsthatproblemscanbediscoveredlongafterasubstancehasbeenplacedonthemarketandiswidespreadinmanyproducts.
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Example: An office chair – it contains many components, materials and chemicals.
WOOD- paint- varnish
PLASTIC- chemical additives
METAL- chromium surface coating
FOAM PLASTIC- residues of blowing agents (CFC)
TEXTILE- flame retardant
RUBBER- chemical additives
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Current situationGaps in information exchange
Todaythereisalackofinformationconcerningwhichhazardoussubstancescanbefoundinproductsandthereforealsoinend-of-lifeproducts.Theinformationavailableonchemicalscontentisrarelypassedonfrommanufacturersandimporterstothebrandownersandusers,andevenmorerarelytowastemanagersandrecyclingservices.
Thelackofinformationonchemicalsinaproduct’slifecyclemakesitdifficulttoreusematerialsfromproductsinasafeway.AninterviewstudyconductedinSwedenshowsthatcompaniesfacedifficultiesinfindingrecycledmaterialwhichmeetstheirqualityrequirements.44
Recycling of hazardous substances
Whilerecyclingisnecessaryandontheincrease,thereisariskthathazardoussubstancesarere-introducedintoproductlifecyclesifrecycledmaterialsareusedwithoutreflectionontheirchemicalcontent.Hazardouschemicalsmayeventuallyendupinproductswheretheyshouldnotbeandtherebycausingpossibleharm.Thiscanpotentiallyalsoweakenthemarketforrecycledmaterial,ifthereiscauseforconsumerstoregardproductsmadefromrecycledmaterialsasbeingalesssafechoice.
4 MaterialRecyclingwithoutHazardousSubstances–Experiencesandfutureoutlookoftenmanufacturersofconsumerproducts,PM14/12,SwedishChemicalsAgency.
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A common situation where there is insufficient information about the quality of the recycled material and the presence of chemicals in it. As a consequence, it is difficult for designers and producers to choose recycled materials.
Information on chemicals content in articles is rarely passed on from manufacturers and importers to the brand owners and users.
Chemical Manufacturers
Formulators/Materials Manufacturers
Component Manufacturers
Brand Owners
Loss of Information
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Examples of hazardous substances found where they should not be
Brominatedflame-retardants,bannedinternationallyasPersistentOrganicPollutants(POPs),weredetectedinthermocupsandkitchenutensilsontheEuropeanmarketduetotheuseofrecycledplastic.5
InspectorsinSwedenoftenfindthefollowinghazardoussubstances6:
•Phthalates(forexample,DEHP)inarticlessuchastoysmadeofsoftPVCplastic
•Short-chainedchlorinatedcompounds(SCCP)inarticlesmadeofsoftplastic(PVC)
•Leadinthesolderinelectricalarticles•Arylaminesfromazodyesintextileandleatherarticles•CadmiuminarticlesandpackagingmadeofPVCplastic•LeadinarticlesmadeofPVCplastic.
Perfluorinatedsubstances(PFAS,PFOA)havebeendetectedindrinkingwaterinanumberofmunicipalitiesinSweden.7
StudiesfromtheNationalFoodAgencyinSwedenshowthatbreastmilkandserumfromthebloodcontaindifferenttypesofpollutants.8Forbannedorrestrictedsubstancesthelevelsareslowlydecreasing.Levelsarehoweverincreasingforothersubstances,whichhavereplacedtheonesnowbanned.MercuryandPCBs,whichhavebeenrestrictedorbannednationallyforalongtime,arestillbeingfound.
5SamsonekJ,PuypeF(2013)FoodAdditives&Contaminants.6http://www.kemi.se/global/tillsyns-pm/2014/tillsyn-6-14-analyses-2008-2013.pdf7http://www.slv.se/sv/grupp3/Pressrum/Nyheter/Pressmeddelanden/Information-till-Sveriges-vattenproducenter-Hall-koll-pa-lackage-av-kemikalier-fran-brandovningsplatser8http://www.slv.se/modersmjolk
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ApproachesInordertoprotecthumanhealthandtheenvironment,itisimportanttoavoidorasfaraspossiblereducetheamountofhazardoussub-stancesinproducts.Itisalsoimportantfromarecyclingperspective,sincethiswillenableamoreefficientandsustainableuseofnaturalresourcesandacirculareconomy.
Hazardouschemicalsshouldbeavoidedrightfromtheoutset.Preventivechemicalscontroliscrucialandthechoiceofchemicalsandmaterialshastobeconsideredasearlyasinthedesignstageoftheproducts.Materialswhicharefreefromhazardoussubstanceswillenablethesafeuseofmorerecycledmaterialandkeeptoaminimumthematerialthatendsupasfinalwaste.Itisalsoimportanttomakesurethathazardoussubstancesareremovedfromthecirculationofmaterials,duringwastemanagementandmaterialrecycling.
Thereareseveralwaystoreduceproblemsrelatedtohazardouschemicalsinproducts,andacombinationofdifferentapproachesisbelievedtobethemostefficientwaytoreachthegoal.
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Restrictions on chemicals in products
Regulations of substances and specific product groups
Basicregulationofchemicalsmakesitpossibletocontrolthespreadofsubstanceswithhazardouspropertiesatanearlystageinthesupplychain.Substancesofveryhighconcernmaybesubjecttoregulatoryactionwellbeforetheybecomedispersedinsocietyandspreadfaroutofcontrol.Regulatingchemicalsearlyinthesupplychainiscost-effectiveandofgreatbenefittosociety.Anotherwaytolimittheuseofhazardouschemicalsinproductsistoregulatespecificchemicalsinspecificproductgroupswheretheriskofpotentialharmisconsideredtobehigh.Someofthemosthazardouschemicalsinproductsareregulatedthroughinternationalconventions.Theseneedtobeimplementednationally.
Stockholm Convention on POPs
TheStockholmConventiononPersistentOrganicPollutants(POPs)addressesanumberofhazardoussubstancesthatareorhavebeencommonlyusedinproducts(suchasPFOSintextiles,PCBsinelectri-calequipmentandbrominatedflameretardantsinvariouselectronicdevices).Sincethesesubstancesaredispersedthroughouttheworldandremainintactintheenvironmentforlongperiodsruleswhichapplyonlyinindividualcountriesarenotenoughtoprotecthumanhealthandtheenvironment.Therefore,thesesubstancesaresubjecttoglobaleliminationorrestrictionsinordertoprotecthumanhealthandtheenvironmentfromharm.Recyclingofthesesubstancesisnotallowedandmustbeconsideredinthematerialrecyclingofproducts.
Minamata Convention on Mercury
TheMinamataConventiononmercuryincludesactionstocontroltheanthropogenicreleasesofmercurythroughoutitsentirelifecycle,fromminingtofinaldisposal.TheConventionincludesregulationsonmercurymining,thetradeinmercury,controlmeasuresonairemissions,artisanalandsmall-scalegoldmining,andtheuseofmercuryinproductsaswellaswastemanagement.
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Improved information exchange
Knowledgeofthepresenceofhazardoussubstancesinproductsiscrucialforthepropermanagement,includingsustainablerecyclinganddisposaloftheseproducts.Greateraccesstoinformationandknowledgeofflows,risksandthemanagementofchemicalsinproductswillimprovethepossibilitiesforsubstitutionofhazardoussubstancesandenableproducers,suppliersandconsumerswithinthesupplychaintomakeinformedchoices.
The Globally Harmonised System for Classification and Labelling (GHS)
TheUnitedNationshasadoptedaGloballyHarmonizedSystem(GHS)forclassificationandlabellingofsubstancesandmixtures.GHSmeansthatgloballyagreedcriteriawillbeappliedforassessingthephysical,health-relatedandenvironmentalpropertiesofsub-stancesandmixtures.Inadditiontothecriteriaforassessmentoftheproperties,GHScontainsrequirementsregardingthetransferofthisinformationtousersofchemicals,throughlabellingandsafetydatasheets.InthiswayGHSwillhelptoimprovechemicalsafetyanditwillalsofacilitateglobaltradeinchemicalsandproducts.
Chemicals in Products (CiP) Programme
TheChemicalsinProducts(CiP)Programmeisaglobalprogrammeforinformationonhazardoussubstancesinproducts,thathasbeendevelopedwithintheframeworkoftheUNStrategicApproachtoInternationalChemicalsManagement(SAICM),
TheCiPProgrammeisaimedatbusinesses,organizationsandotherstakeholderswhoareinvolvedinaproduct’slifecycleandareseekingtointroduceimprovedandefficientproceduresfortheexchangeofinformationonchemicalsinproducts.ThegoaloftheCiPProgrammeisthatstakeholdershaveaccesstoinformationonchemicalsinproductstoassisttheminmakingdecisionsandtakingappropriateactiononchemicalsexposure,riskandmanagement.
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A product’s life cycle, exemplified by a cellphone, including design, production, sales, use, waste management and recycling in a system where information on the chemicals involved is transferred between the various actors during the life cycle of the cellphone.
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TheCiPProgrammedocumentsetsouttheinformationexchangeobjectivesanddescribestherolesandproposedresponsibilitiesofstakeholdersthroughouttheproductlifecycle.TheguidancedescribesthetypeofCiPinformationstakeholdersmaywishtoexchangeandhowtheycandeterminewhichinformationisrelevant,e.g.whichchemicalstheyinclude.Furthermore,itgivesexamplesontheapproachtakenbydifferentbusinesssectorswithintheirrespectivesupply.Informationonchemicalsinproductsisakeytosustainablerecycling.
Legal requirements for information on chemicals in products
Inadditiontovoluntarymeasuresconnectedtoinformationexchange,legalrequirementscanbeimposedoncompaniesplacingproductscontaininghazardouschemicalsonthemarket.
CountriescanchosetomakeGHSmandatorybydevelopingnationalrulesonclassificationandlabellingofchemicals.IntheEuropeanUnion,GHShasbeenimplementedthroughtheRegula-tiononClassification,LabellingandPackagingofSubstancesandMixtures(CLPRegulation)andalsounderREACH(SafetyDataSheetrequirements).
EUrulesrelatedtoinformationoncertainchemicalsinproductscanalsobefoundintheREACHRegulationandtheBiocicalProductsRegulation.
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Enforcement of legislationTheenforcementofexistingregulationiscrucialforaneffectivereductionofhazardouschemicalsinproducts.Enforcementcane.g.bedonethroughon-siteinspectionofcompanieswhichmanufac-ture,importorsellproducts,tomonitortheirchemicalsmanagementsystem.Labellinganddocumentationcanbefollowed-upandalsobecomplementedbyanalysesoftheproducts,ifnecessary.
Networksofinspectorsandvariousreportingsystemscanbecreatedinordertomakeenforcementmoreefficient.
Other ways of working with industryVoluntarydialoguewithindustry,whichiscomplementarytolegisla-tion,canhelptoachieveresults.Thisdialoguecanincludeawareness-raisingactivitiessuchastrainingcourses,seminarsandotherinforma-tionactivities.
Togiveanexample,since2011theSwedishChemicalsAgencyhasbeenworkingtogetherwithcompaniesinthetoys,textiles,cosmeticsandhygieneproductssectorsinordertoensurethatchildrenaregivengreaterprotection.Companiesandsectorswishingtobeintheforefrontofeffortstophaseouthazardoussubstanceshavebeenpar-ticipatingonavoluntarybasis,andduringthecourseofthiscoopera-tiontargetshavebeenidentifiedconcerning:
•Voluntaryrestrictionsandphasingoutofsubstancessuchasaller-gensandsensitizersfromproductsforusebychildren.
•Theexchangeofknowledgebetweencompanies,governmentaut-horitiesandtheresearchworld.
• Informationactivitiesaimedatcompaniesorconsumers.
…
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Examples from EU
Basic chemicals legislation
REACH
REACHisaEuropeanUnionregulation,adoptedtoincreasetheprotectionofhumanhealthandtheenvironmentfromthepotentialrisksposedbychemicalswhileenhancingthecompetitivenessoftheEUchemicalsindustry.Italsopromotesalternativemethodsforthehazardassessmentofsubstancesinordertoreducethenumberoftestsonanimals.
REACHstandsforRegistration,Evaluation,AuthorisationandRestrictionofChemicals.
Inprinciple,REACHappliestoallchemicalsubstances,thoseusednotonlyinindustrialprocessesbutalsoinourday-to-daylives,inarticlessuchascleaningproductsandpaintsaswellasinotherssuchasclothes,furnitureandelectricalappliances.ThisregulationthereforeaffectsmostcompaniesacrosstheEU.
REACHplacestheburdenofproofoncompanies.TocomplywiththeRegulation,companiesmustidentifyandmanagetheriskslinkedtothesubstancestheymanufactureandmarketintheEU.TheyhavetodemonstratetotheEuropeanChemicalsAgency(ECHA)howthesubstancecanbesafelyused,andtheymustinformusersoftheriskmanagementmeasurestobetaken.
Iftheriskscannotbemanaged,theauthoritiescanrestricttheuseofthesesubstancesindifferentways.Inthelongrun,themosthazardoussubstancesshouldbesubstitutedwiththosethatarelesshazardous.
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Product specific legislation
Toys
TheToysSafetyDirectivestipulatesthatthecontentofchemicalsub-stancesintoysmustnotposeanyrisktohumanhealth.
Inthecaseofcertainsubstances,thereisasetlimitforleaching(migration)fromthetoy.SubstancesclassifiedasCMRsubstances,i.e.thosewhicharecarcinogenic,harmfultogeneticmaterial(mutagenic)orabletointerferewithreproductivecapacity(toxicforreproduction),mustnotbeusedinaccessiblepartsoftoys.Theinacces-siblepartsarealsosubjecttotheCMRbanifthesubstanceisinhalable.
TheDirectivealsocontainsalistofallergenicfragranceswhicharebannedfromuseintoysabovecertainconcentrationlimitsaswellaslimitvaluesfornitrosaminesandnitrosablesubstancesfortoysintendedforchildrenundertheageof36monthsortoysintendedforplacinginthemouth.
Electrical and electronic products
TheEURoHSDirectivecontainsrestrictionsoftheuseofcertainhazardoussubstancesinelectricalandelectronicequipment.
TheaimoftheDirectiveistoreducetheriskstohumanhealthandtheenvironmentthroughthesubstitutionofmercury,cadmium,lead,hexa-valentchromiumandtheflame-retardantsPBBandPBDEinelectricalandelectronicequipmentwithlesshazardousalternativesoralternativetechniques.TheRoHSDirectivedefinesconcentrationlimitsforthesesubstances.AnotheraimoftheDirectiveistoenableamoreresource-efficientandsustainablerecyclingofelectricalandelectronicequipment.
Ecodesign Directive
TheultimateaimoftheEcodesignDirectiveisthatmanufacturersofenergy-usingproductswillberequiredatthedesignstagetoreducetheirenergyconsumptionandanyothernegativeenvironmentalimpactoftheirproducts.WhiletheDirective’sprimaryaimistoreduceenergyuse,itisalsotoenforceotherenvironmentalconside-rationsincluding:materialsuse,wateruse,pollutingemissions,wasteissuesandrecyclability.
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Legislation related to information on chemicals in products
Biocidal Products Regulation
TheBiocidalProductsRegulationcontainsrulesrelatingtoarticlestreatedwithbiocides.Treatedproducts/articlesaredefinedasallsub-stances,mixturesorarticleswhicharetreatedwithorwhichintentio-nallyincorporateoneormorebiocidalproducts.Atreatedarticlecanbeanoutdoorpaintcontaininganalgaecide,acarpettreatedagainstmothsoracuttingboardtreatedwithantibacterialsubstances.EvenclothingtreatedtopreventodourareregardedastreatedarticlesaccordingtothedefinitionoftheBiocidalProductsRegulation.
Ifthearticlecomeswithabiocidalclaimsuchas‘antibacterial’,‘treatedtopreventodour’,‘protectsagainstmosquitoes’,‘hygienic’or‘inhibitsbacterialgrowth’,thearticlehastobelabelledwiththefollowinginformation:
•Statementthatthearticleincorporatesabiocidalproduct•Purposeofthetreatment•Nameofallactivesubstancescontainedinthebiocidalproduct•Nameofallnanomaterialscontainedinthebiocidalproduct• Instructionsforuse,includingnecessaryprecautions
TreatedarticlesmayonlybeplacedontheEUmarketiftheyhavebeentreatedwithbiocidalproductscontainingactivesubstancesapprovedintheEUfortherelevantproducttypeanduse.
TheBiocidalProductsRegulationcontainsrequirementsstipula-tingthattheefficacyofactivesubstanceswhenusedintreatedarticlescanbedemonstrated.Furthermore,whenabiocidalclaimisattachedtoatreatedarticlewhichisplacedonthemarket,themanufacturerofthearticlemustbeabletosubstantiatesuchaclaim.
TheNordiccountrieshavedevelopedandpublishedaguidancedocumentonhowtotestanddemonstratetheefficacyoftreatedarticles(“EfficacyAssessmentofTreatedArticles–aGuide”).Theguidestatesthatthebenefitofatreatedarticlemustbeproven.Withoutsuchbenefit,thiswouldposeanunnecessaryrisktohumanhealthandtheenvironment.
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REACH
TheREACHRegulationcontainslegalobligationsregardingtheiden-tificationofasubstanceasaSubstanceofVeryHighConcern(SVHC)anditsinclusionintheCandidateList.Suppliersofarticleswhichcontainsuchasubstanceinaconcentrationabove0.1%(weightbyweight)mustprovidetherecipientsofsucharticleswithenoughinfor-mationtoallowtheirsafeuse.Therecipientsinthiscaseareindustrialorprofessionalusersanddistributors,notconsumers.Theyshould,asaminimum,beinformedofthenameofthesubstanceinquestion.
Consumerscanrequestsimilarinformation,andthesupplierofthearticlemustprovidethisinformationfreeofchargewithin45days.
Producersandimportersofarticlescanobtaininformationonthesubstancespresentintheirarticlesandtheirconcentrationlevelsfromactorsfurtheruptheirsupplychain,suchasarticlesuppliersoutsidetheEUandsuppliersofsubstancesandmixtures.
AnumberofauthoritiesresponsibleforimplementingREACHwithintheEUhavejointlydevelopedaguidancedocumentforsuppliersofarticlesfortheEUmarket.Thisguidanceisintendedtomakesuppliersofarticles–i.e.producers,importers,wholesalersandretailers–awareofhowtoobtainandprovideinformationinordertofulfiltheirobligationsregardingarticles.•Firstly,theguidancedocumentprovidesadescriptionofREACH,theobligationsregardingtheprocessofprovidinginformationfortheCandidateListofsubstances,andadescriptionofanumberofotheraspectsofREACH.
•Secondly,itprovidespracticaladvicewhichfocusesonhowsuppliersshouldfulfilthedutytoinformcustomers,includinghowtheyshouldapplythetriggerlimit(regardingwhentoprovideinformation),howtheyshouldfirstaccessinformationfromfurtherupthesupplychain,andhowtheyshouldknowwhichinformationtoprovide.
•Thirdly,itprovidesadviceontheroutinesandtoolstoapplytotheworkofaccessing,storingandprovidinginformation.Finally,itprovidesabriefsummaryofimportantareasofadviceregardingtheseobligationsandthereasonswhysuppliersmaybenefitfromcarryingouttheseobligationsinlinewiththisguidancedocument.
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Enforcement networks and systems
Regional Enforcement Network for Chemicals and Waste (REN)
TheRegionalEnforcementNetworkforChemicalsandWaste(REN)isaprojectfinancedbytheGovernmentofSwedenthroughtheSwedishInternationalDevelopmentCooperationAgency(Sida)andimplementedbyUNEPin25countriesinNortheastAsia,SouthAsiaandSoutheastAsia.Theprojectaimstoreducetheillegaltransboun-darymovementofharmfulchemicalsandhazardouswaste,suchaselectricandelectronicproducts.Improvedcapacityoffrontlineenforcementofficialsandenhancedcooperationatbothnationalandregionallevelwillpromotemoreeffectiveenforcementofchemicalandwaste-relatedmultilateralenvironmentalagreements(MEAs).
RENhassetupaninformalnetworktoserveasaplatformforinformationexchangeandexperience-sharingfortheparticipatingcountriesaswellasthepartners.Projectactivitiesincludetechnicalassistanceforproblem-solving,informationandintelligence-sharing,enforcementoperationsandtheAsiaEnvironmentalEnforcementAward,networking,awarenessandpartnershipsforsustainability.
EU Enforcement Networks for Chemicals
ThereareseveralenforcementnetworksforchemicalsintheEU,whichareinvaluablefortheenforcementauthorities.Theseinclude:
•Forum•CLEEN•RoHS-Adco•Toys-Adco•Prosafe
Mutualprojects,theinterpretationoflegislation,theexchangeofinspectorsandotherquestionsarediscussedinthesenetworks.
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RAPEX
TheRapidAlertSystemfordangerousnon-foodproducts–RAPEX–isasystemusedbytheEUcountriestoexchangeinformationabouthazardousconsumerproductsavailableonthemarket.AlistofthenotificationsmadetoRAPEXispublishedeveryFridayregardinghazardousproductsreportedbyauthoritiesintheEUmemberstates.Thelistcontainsinformationabouteachproduct,itspotentialdangerandthemeasurestakenbythereportingcountry.
Definitions from EU regulations
Substance–Achemicalelementanditscompoundsinthenaturalstateorobtainedbyanymanufacturingprocess,includinganyadditivenecessarytopreserveitsstabilityandanyimpurityderivingfromtheprocessused,butexcludinganysolventwhichmaybeseparatedwithoutaffectingthestabilityofthesubstanceorchangingitscomposition.
Mixture–Amixtureorsolutioncomposedoftwoormoresubstances.
Chemical–Asubstanceormixture.
Hazardous substance/chemical–Anysubstancewhichhasaninherentcapacitytocauseanadverseeffect,immediatelyorinthemoredistantfuture,onhumans,animalsortheenvironment.
Chemical product –Aproductconsistingofoneormoresubstances.
Product–Anobjectwhichduringproductionisgivenaspecialshape,surface,ordesignthatdeterminesitsfunctiontoagreaterdegreethanitschemicalcomposition.
Article–Anobjectwhichduringproductionisgivenaspecialshape,surface,ordesignthatdeterminesitsfunctiontoagreaterdegreethanitschemicalcompositionREACHusestheterm“article”forwhatisinternationallyknownas“product”.AccordingtoREACH,articlescanbeclothing,flooring,furniture,jewellery,newspapersandplasticpackaging.
This information brochure is financed by Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida