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TAIEX Workshop on the REACH Regulation and Its Application in Textiles, Leather and Shoes Production “REACH & Its Practical Application on Textiles ” November 12, 2009. REACH. By Adil ELMASSI Head of Environmental Affairs. Do I need to pre-register and register substances in articles?
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TAIEX Workshop on the REACH Regulation and Its Application in Textiles, Leather and Shoes Production “REACH & Its Practical Application on Textiles ” November 12, 2009 REACH By Adil ELMASSI Head of Environmental Affairs
Do I need to pre-register and register substances in articles? • Do I need to notify substances in articles? • Do I need to forward information on substances in articles to my customers or to the consumers? • The application of substances in articles provisions is a serious challenge for EU importers of yarns, fibres and grey fabrics as well as finished articles • WHY? • Lack of information on the production process and the corresponding chemicals input
Substances in Articles • Obligations–EU Importers • Registration according to article 7(1) • Intended release • Total amount exceeds 1 t/a • The total amount of the substances in all articles is taken into account • If more than one type of articles with intended release of that substance, the quantities in all articles have to be summed up • The substance does not have to be registered if already registered by an actor in the supply chain
Notification according to article 7(2) • Only when all conditions are met: • The substances is included in the candidate list for authorisation (article 59(1)) • Is present in all articles in amount totalling over 1t/a • Is present in the articles above 0.1% (w/w) • Notification is not requested if one of the following conditions is met: • Exposure is excluded • The substances has already been registered for the use in the article
Notification according to article 7(2) • IMPORTANT to note • 0.1%(w/w) threshold is applied to an article as imported and not to the homogeneous parts of an article • Substances being part of imported articles cannot be subject to authorisation
Duty to Communicate Information on Substances in Articles - Obligation according to Article 33 • Articles 33 ensures that sufficient information is communicated with articles to allow safe use • Information has to be also provided to consumers upon request within 45 days • It concerns SVHC present in the article in concentration above 0.1% • The obligation cannot be exempted via article 7(3) (exclusion of exposure) • The obligation cannot be exempted via article 7(6) ( already registered for that use)
Obligations according to Article 33 • IMPORTANT to note • There is no tonnage trigger for this obligation • The obligation applies once SVHC has been included on the candidate list for authorisation • The date of supply of articles is relevant • The obligation apply also to articles which were imported before the substance was included in the candidate list and are supplied after the inclusion in the that list
RESTRICTIONS • The content of substances in imported articles can be restricted or banned • Importers of articles has to follow the conditions outlined in annex XVII of REACH from the 1 June 2009
Packaging and containers • Importers of packaged articles have to fulfil the same requirements for that packaging as for any other article, be it a carton or a plastic wrapping • In general no intended release from packaging materials is foreseen but they may be unintended release.
Be Prepared to communicate Information to your EU Customers • Article Suppliers to the EU: • Should document the results of their compliance checking with the requirements of substances in articles and information to consumers • With implemented Environmental management systems could incorporateREACH conformity as a criterion with a clear indication of how conformity will be secured and documented • May establish “good practice code” with supporting documents including letters to importers, certificates, results of analysis etc.
Standardised information from non-EU suppliers • Part of the information needed to comply with Art 7 & 33 can be derived from the SDS (art 31) or information required for substances subject to authorisation /restriction for which no SDS is required ( Art.32) • Article importers will not receive any comparable standardised information ( supply chain outside the EU)
Requesting non-standardised information • In this case you will face an active request for information on the identity of the SVHC and on the concentration/amount contained in the articles I M P O R T A N T to note The textile supply chain is complex, confidentiality and contractual obligations may hinder communication and information flow. This type of enquiries will need time and resources and concertation between the actors
NON-EU Exporters can play a role in facilitating the process and reducing the work load • Excluding the use of SVHC: • This could be done “top down”: • by certifying that SVHC are not used • or remain under certain concentration range in articles. • The “bottom up” approach consist of EU importer including criteria in supply contracts
Recommendation for a strategy to consider • Narrow down the range of SVHC in the candidate list by using the “ exclusion” approach • Consider 0.1% (trace amounts would normally not exceed the threshold) • Consider when relevant the 1t/a threshold (substances in articles requirement) • Exhaust options for obtaining information via your supply chain • Only as last resort conduct targeted analysis
Determining whether the article contain SVHC Be aware of the possibility to accumulate SVHC through the production process If the exact concentration in the article is not known , a first screen may be performed on the basis of the maximum amount or concentration in the article. If it shows a concentration > 0.1% a more precise determination of the SVHC amount or concentration should be made
Excluding exposure for substances in • articles • Exposure can be excluded in the following situations: • No release occur • There is a release but the article is embedded during use and the substance will not escape to the environment or get into contact with humans during use and disposal
Excluding exposure • include arguments based on: • Knowledge of the article and its service life • Knowledge on the substance properties • Quantification based on exposure models demonstrating no exposure during the life cycle and disposal • Measurements proving that no emission from the article take place including during its disposal It maybe more difficult and more expansive to “exclude exposure” than making a notification to the Agency
Thank you for your attention Adil ELMASSI HEAD OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS EURATEX