The Commission of the European Union (EU) has amended its regulations covering the registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemicals (REACH), adding a number of substances deemed carcinogenic or toxic for reproduction.
The Regulation, published in the Official Journal of the European Union in February 2012, adds eight new chemicals which have been classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR). The newly added chemicals that are carcinogenic include diarsenic trioxide, diarsenic pentaoxide and 2,4-dinitrotuluene (2,4-DNT). The chemicals that are toxic for reproduction include diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) and tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP). The chemicals lead chromate, lead sulfochromate yellow and lead chromate molybdate sulphate red are both carcinogenic and toxic for reproduction.
The changes, which reflect recommendations made by the European Chemicals Agency in December 2010, affect the list of chemicals identified in Annex XIV of the REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006. Restrictions against the use of these newly added chemicals begin as early as August 2013.
Read the complete text of the amended REACH regulations.
