EU Proposes Restrictions On Sensitizing Substances Such As Textiles.

According to the proposal submitted by France and Sweden, the European Chemicals Administration (ECHA) launched 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 proposal covers substances in Category 1, 1A or 1B skin sensitizers in Annex VI of the CLP code. The assessment period ended as of December 19, 2019.

The proposal covers the following items: clothing, related accessories and clothing other than clothing, such as sheets, blankets, upholstery (fabric covered chairs, armchairs and sofas, car seats, etc.), cushion covers, bathrobes, towels, reusable diapers and sanitary napkins, sleeping bags, yarn and fabrics for the end consumer, bags (such as handbags, backpacks, briefcases), carpets, mats, fashion accessories (such as hand strap, necklace, bracelet, etc.) and footwear (including the insole).

The concentration limits of sensitizers are as follows:

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

The proposed exemption products include jewellery, spectacles and sunglasses, curtains, textile lampshades and wall decoration, chairs, armchairs and sofa filling materials, secondhand articles, articles in the scope of 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 the public consultation, decide whether to take restrictive measures on the skin sensitive substances in textiles, leather, raw skins and fur and submit them to annex XVII of regulation (EC) 1907/2006 (REACH) according to the materials submitted.