Directive Decoder

Happy New Year all

The European Chemicals Agency has submitted to the European Commission a recommendation that eight chemical substances of very high concern should in future not be used without authorisation. Four of the substances are classified as both carcinogenic and toxic to reproduction, three as carcinogenic and one as toxic to reproduction. They are all used in processes or products to which workers or consumers are exposed.

The protection of human health and the environment is at the heart of REACH. Making these eight substances of very high concern (SVHCs) subject to authorisation seeks to ensure that their risks are properly controlled and that the substances are progressively replaced.

The 8 Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) that were published in December take the current total to 46.

As a guide to what SVHCs will potentially be added to the list we turn to the Registry of Intentions for our guide. In theory a couple of months after the required technical documments have been submitted the substances are moved forward to the Candidate List although, as we saw in December, there is still time for any of them to be rejected.

So, with dossiers due in January (9 substances) and August (6) additions to the Candidate List are likely around March and October.

Dr Paul Goodman of Cobham Technical Services (ERA Technology) looks at the 15 substances that are in the Registry of Intentions and their typical uses in industry.

This article talks about the implementation of the requirements of European Union regulation 640/2009

Here are the regulation dates for motors (0.75-375 kW) put on the market in the EU:

16 Jun 2011: IE2 min. efficiency.
1 Jan 2015: for motors with rated output 7.5-375 kW - IE3 min. OR IE2+VSD.
1 Jan 2017: for motors with rated output 0.75-375 kW - IE3 min. OR IE2+VSD.

VSD = variable speed drive which greatly increases overall efficiency.

During January 2011 the Ministry of the Environment of Korea produced a draft of "Korean REACH" called the "Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals"

Ministers are currently debating the Act but it will shortly be published for public consultation.

The draft Act will amend the current Toxic Chemicals Control Act and introduce many similar regulatory elements from EU REACH.

These would include priority chemicals, chemicals for authorisation, chemicals for restriction, pre-registration of priority chemicals and communication of information throughout the supply chain.

The Act will enter into force 2 years after publication in the Official Journal.

Directive Decoder