The Commission of the European Union (EU) is reportedly seeking to expand the provisions of the EU’s chemical restriction regulations to include the use of lead and lead compounds in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) polymers and copolymers.
According to a Notification filed with the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Commission has issued a Draft Commission Regulation that would amend a portion of Annex XVII of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, “Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals,” also known as the REACH Regulation. The specific changes proposed in the Draft Regulation would prohibit the use of lead and lead compounds in PVC articles and prohibit the placing on the market of PVC articles containing a concentration of lead equal to or greater than 0.1% of the PVC.
The Draft Commission Regulation does include several exemptions to the proposed restrictions such as food contact materials which are already addressed by existing EU Regulations and Directives.
According to the Notification filed with the WTO, the Commission estimates that the Draft Regulation will be adopted in late 2022, with an application of the restrictions deferred until late 2024.
