EU Proposes Restrictions On Sensitizing Substances In Textiles And Leather Products.

According to the proposal submitted by France and Sweden, the European Chemicals Administration (ECHA) launched a public consultation on the proposal to restrict the delivery of textiles, leather, skins and fur products containing skin sensitive substances on the market. The proposed restrictions cover substances classified as skin sensitizers in Category 1 or 1A or 1B of annex VI of the CLP code. The assessment period is before December 19, 2019.

The proposals relate to the following items: clothing and related accessories and clothing other than clothing, such as sheets, blankets, blankets, upholstery (fabric covered chairs, armchair and sofa chairs, etc.) under normal or reasonably foreseeable use conditions, such as bedspreads, bathrooms, towels, reusable diapers and sanitary napkins, sleeping bags, yarn and fabrics for the end consumer, bags (such as handbags, backpacks, briefcases), carpets, Mats and carpets, fashion accessories (such as watch bands, necklaces, bracelets, etc.) and footwear (including the insole).

The concentration limits of sensitizers are as follows:

* mainly includes skin sensitizer substances of 1, 1A or 1B, or substances sensitized to skin, as listed in Annex six of the CLP regulations.

The products exempt from the proposal include: jewelry, spectacles and sunglasses, curtains, textile lampshades and wall decoration, chairs, armchairs and sofa filling materials, second-hand goods, articles on the personal protective equipment regulations (2016/425/EU), medical device items in the scope of medical device regulations (2017/745/EU), and footwear parts (such as soles) that do not contact human skin under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions.

The European Commission (EC) will, after public consultation, decide whether to take restrictive measures for skin sensitive substances in textiles, leather, fur and leather according to the materials submitted, and incorporate them into annex XVII of regulation (EC) 1907/2006 (REACH).

Recently, a non food rapid alert system (RAPEX) issued an underwear product bulletin, as the nickel content in the product was 130 mg / kg. Nickel is often referred to as a strong skin sensitizer. If it exists in objects that are directly exposed to the skin, it will cause allergic reactions.