{"id":3803,"date":"2014-06-06T09:58:39","date_gmt":"2014-06-06T14:58:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/health\/?p=3803"},"modified":"2014-06-06T09:58:39","modified_gmt":"2014-06-06T14:58:39","slug":"echa-keeps-the-ball-rolling-on-authorisation-under-reach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/health\/2014\/06\/06\/echa-keeps-the-ball-rolling-on-authorisation-under-reach\/","title":{"rendered":"ECHA keeps the ball rolling on Authorisation under REACH"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alissa Sasso<\/em> is a Chemicals Policy Fellow.<\/em><\/p>\n

In our last update on the European Union\u2019s Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), <\/span>we noted a major milestone<\/span><\/a> under the \u201cA\u201d of REACH, as the first application for an authorisation was passed to and is awaiting decision by the European Commission. The authorisation process is continuing to move along: <\/span>as of May 19<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/a>, ECHA has received 13 applications for 35 uses of six different substances on the Authorisation list. Interest in ECHA\u2019s authorisation work is also increasing, eliciting a greater variety of stakeholder input than in the first round.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For a refresher on authorisation under REACH, click <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Additional phthalate applications spark public interest<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Our last blog post covered an application for authorisation of a very narrow use of Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) by Rolls Royce: in the manufacture of fan blades for plane engines; a final decision from the European Commission on that application is pending. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

ECHA received seven additional applications covering 16 uses for DEHP and another phthalate on the authorisation list: Dibutyl phthalate (DBP). You can see a summary of the uses applied for <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The ECHA Committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Socio-economic Analysis (SEAC) have published a draft opinion on one use of DBP applied for by Sasol-Huntsman, determining the application <\/span>\u201cdemonstrated adequate control of risks\u201d<\/span><\/a> (Chemical Watch<\/i>, subscription required). In this application, <\/span>DBP is used<\/span><\/a> as an absorption solvent in the manufacture of another compound, maleic anhydride. The Committees have yet to publish opinions on the other applications for these phthalates; you can see the status of all applications <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

During the public consultation period for the seven additional phthalate applications, ECHA received 120 comments, way up from the five comments received on the first application by Rolls Royce. There are several reasons for the increase in stakeholder participation. First, the applications cover a greater variety of uses than that proposed by Rolls Royce. Applicants for these more recent authorizations, some of which are chemical manufacturers rather than downstream users, are only providing broad use descriptions and alternatives assessments. This has prompted many comments from<\/span> both EU member state authorities and NGOs<\/span><\/a>, calling on ECHA to reject these applications and require detailed descriptions and separate assessments for each specific use (Chemical Watch, <\/i>subscription required). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, many NGO comments address the lack of detail and transparency in the broad information on these uses that is being shared with the public. This information is provided by the companies applying for authorisations, and <\/span>NGOs have accused ECHA of broadly accepting all of their confidentiality claims<\/span><\/a>. They argue that the lack of detail provided to the public makes it more difficult for third parties to assess or recommend alternatives.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, <\/span>according to ECHA<\/span><\/a>, many of the comments were prompted by the proposed large-volume use of DEHP as a plasticizer in a wide range of consumer plastic products; commenters noted that the potential for exposure to this chemical, should an authorisation be granted, is far greater than from the single narrow use proposed by Rolls Royce. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Interestingly, several NGOs and the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production at the University of Massachusetts submitted comments on alternatives to DEHP. Not only is there global interest in the EU\u2019s authorisation process, but it is eliciting substantive comments aimed at promoting safer substitution even from groups outside the EU.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Other authorisation applications hit close to home<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

ECHA has also received four applications for uses of diarsenic trioxide and the lead chromate pigments, Yellow 34 and Red 104. You can view the status of the committee decisions as they are published and all public comments submitted for these substances <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Applications for two uses of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD, abbreviated as HBCD in the U.S.), have also been received, both of them for use as a flame retardant in expanded polystyrene foam in building applications. HBCD is undergoing a risk assessment by the U.S. EPA as part of its <\/span>2013 TSCA Work Plan<\/span><\/a>, and it was the subject of a <\/span>U.S. EPA Action Plan<\/span><\/a>\u00a0issued in 2010.\u00a0EPA\u2019s <\/span><\/span><\/span>Design for the Environment (DfE) program completed an alternatives assessment<\/span><\/a> for certain uses of HBCD in 2013, including for the two uses for which authorisations are being sought under REACH. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the flurry of activity on HBCD in both the EU and the U.S., this flame retardant is still in production and use here at home. \u00a0See EDF\u2019s Toxics Across America<\/i> map showing its sites of manufacture and import; two chemical names and CAS#s represent HBCD: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n