EU cracks down on sellers of 15 dangerous chems

28 October 2008 17:50  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--Suppliers of articles, substances and preparations containing 15 named chemicals will from Tuesday have to supply safety data on the chemicals to customers and consumers when they are sold in the EU.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published its candidate list of substances of very high concern which immediately imposes certain legal obligations on the suppliers and users of the chemicals.

The substances will be subject to authorisation under the EU’s Reach, registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals, scheme.

Chemicals on the candidate list include certain phthalates and arsenic compounds, short chain chlorinated paraffins, xylene musk and anthracene among others. The list will be regularly updated when more substances are identified as "substances of very high concern" (SVHC) for authorisation, the ECHA said.

“All companies should take note of the candidate list. It is critical they know that the inclusion of the substances in the list generates immediate new legal obligations for the communication in the supply chain,” said ECHA executive director Geert Dancet.

From 28 October, sellers of articles in the EU containing more than 0.1% weight for weight (w/w) of the listed items must provide safety information on request to customers and consumers.

Producers and importers of articles containing candidate list substances have further obligations from 1 December 2011.

Suppliers of substances and preparations containing candidate list chemicals have from Tuesday to supply customers with safety data sheets on the chemicals concerned.

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By: Nigel Davis
+44 20 8652 3214

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