Ask suspected pollutants at the producer

Manufacturers must provide information about substances of very high concern

04/13/2015

Potentially harmful chemicals can be found in many everyday items, but at first glance, they are usually unrecognizable to consumers. Here, a demand from the manufacturer, dealer or importer can help, because the REACH Regulation of the European Union (EU) obliges them to provide free information within 45 days. If there is any suspicion that a product contains hazardous substances harmful to health, a clarification is possible in this way.

With the regulation to Registration, evaluation and Authorization of chEmichen (REACH), the EU Commission gave consumers a right to information on the use of chemicals in products. „When chemicals are processed into articles (such as a dye in a plastic product), information about the substances of very high concern and safe handling must be provided within the supply chain“, reports the Federal Environment Agency. Traders, manufacturers and importers are required to provide information when the concentration of the substance in the product exceeds 0.1% by mass.

Obligation to inform the manufacturers and distributors
According to the Federal Environment Agency, the obligation to provide information applies to most items, such as „Housewares, textiles, shoes, sporting goods, furniture, home improvement supplies, electrical / electronic equipment, toys, vehicles or packaging.“ Excluded are areas that are subject to special regulations, such as „liquid or powdered products (such as paints or inks), medical devices, pharmaceuticals, foods, cosmetics, detergents and cleaners, feeds, pesticides and biocides.“ In order to limit the substances of very high concern, the so-called REACH candidate lists were developed, which at the end of 2014 included a total of 161 substances. As a rule, individual pollutants are absorbed twice a year, with the initiative coming from individual member states or the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). For example, since 2008 the Federal Environment Agency, as competent authority in Germany, has submitted a dossier for inclusion in the candidate list for five different substances or groups of substances.

Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern
For all substances on the candidate list, such as plasticizers, solvents and other chemicals, manufacturers must provide information on request, as these may pose a risk to humans and the environment. Among the harmful properties, for example, a carcinogenic effect or damage to the reproductive ability are called. Although the inclusion on the candidate list does not automatically require a mandatory approval of the named substances, but the EU Commission has the opportunity to have them in a next step. A ban on individual substances or the establishment of stricter limits remain an option. Overall, the REACH regulation aims at a centralized collection of all chemicals, whereby the dangers for humans and environment are to be clearly designated and the use of harmful substances should be avoided as far as possible in the long term.

Missing references to the products
Until today, many people would think about chemicals, that does not affect them, according to the head of the Department of Chemicals at the Federal Environment Agency, Christoph Schulte, to the news agency „dpa“. However, this was a miscalculation and due to the fact that most of the use will not be aware, since there is no mandatory evidence on many products in the trade. For example, it is stated on paints and varnishes that they are poisonous if they are swallowed or inhaled - with a varnished table, however, such instructions are not to be found. „There are a lot of substances that can evaporate for quite a while and are distributed in the environment and absorbed by humans“, quotes the „dpa“ the experts.

Demands increase the pressure on the manufacturers
With the REACH Regulation, the European Union is well on the way to reducing the use of potentially harmful chemicals and, through the right to information, consumers can create additional pressure on traders and manufacturers. To support the Federal Environment Agency offers an online form, on which only the number under the bar code of the product and the contact address must be entered. The online form automatically generates a request to the manufacturer or importer. After 45 days the answer should be received at the latest. If this is not the case, the Federal Environment Agency advises the competent authorities of the federal states to inform, with an overview of the authorities on the website of the Federal Environment Agency is made available. Violations of the obligations to provide information are an offense and can be punished with a fine. (Fp)