33x Textiles Chemicals Added to Annex XVII of REACH Regulation
33x textiles chemicals have been added to Annex XVII of REACH under a major new amendment which will come into force on 1st November 2020. Brands, retailers and manufacturers of textiles and textile containing product (including clothing) need to be aware of this major change in REACH regulation and ensure that finished articles are compliant with these new changes. REACH Annex XVII requirements apply to any products and materials that are manufactured, retailed, imported and distributed in the European Union (EU).
New Restrictions for Textiles Chemicals under REACH
On 10th October 2018, the EU Commission published Regulation (EU) 2018/1513 amending REACH Annex XVII restricted substances list by restricting certain substances classified as carcinogenic (cancer causing), mutagenic (capable of causing genetic mutation) or toxic for reproduction category in apparel, footwear and other textile consumer products. The new entry no. is 72
What does this mean?
In summary, a new entry has been written into Annex XVII of REACH placing restrictions on several chemicals that are known to be CMR’s. There are 33 chemicals that have been added which includes (but not limited to):
- Formaldehyde
- PAH's
- Phthalates
- DMFa
- Heavy Metals (extractable)
- Chromium VI (extractable)
- Disperse Dyes
The full list of chemicals in Regulation (EU) 2018/1513 can be found here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32018R1513&from=EN
Important Points:
1. These restrictions are applicable to:
- Clothing or related accessories
- Textiles other than clothing that come into contact with the human skin (e.g. upholstery)
- Footwear (leather, fur, non-textile fasteners, decorative trims are all excluded)
2. These restrictions come into place on 1st November 2020
3. All of the entries have their own individual limits, which can be found on the link above
4. Formaldehyde is restricted at <75ppm - however, there is a different limit of <300ppm for jackets, coats and upholstery up until 2023
5. Carpets, wall coverings, rugs are not under the scope of the regulation
These additions will have a significant impact on manufacturers, retailers or importers of textile or textile containing products within the EU.
Be Prepared. Test Your Products for Compliance
Chemical testing of textile products and materials (RSL testing) helps your business with compliance to REACH regulation as well as providing your customers with assurance.
At Eurofins | BLC, we offer a variety of REACH testing and support services for a wide range of products including clothing and textiles:
Discuss your chemical testing and REACH regulation needs with our chemical experts at Eurofins | BLC via email to [email protected], telephone + 44 (0) 1604 679 999 or complete the web form at the bottom of this page.
29 October 2018