SVHC Focus: Melamine - Are you Testing?
On 17th January 2023, ECHA confirmed the addition of 9 new substances to the SVHC list within REACH. Amongst these newly added substances was Melamine.
Melamine is classified as having specific target organ toxicity STOT RE 2 (urinary tract) and as a category 2 carcinogen after the German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health concluded that melamine is “possibly carcinogenic to humans” with “sufficient evidence in animals but not enough for definitive decision in humans”.
Melamine is a constituent of melamine-formaldehyde, a thermosetting plastic with high heat resistance, hardness, and stiffness.
Melamine may be found in:
- Laminated wood
- Materials with flame retardants
- Plastic tableware and other food contact materials
- Stain and water-resistant textiles and clothing
- Leather treatment products
- Detergents
- Electrical and household appliances
- Children’s toys
Due to its inclusion on the Candidate List, companies must inform their business customers about the presence of melamine in their product once a threshold of 0.1% has been exceeded. Additionally, manufacturers, importers, and retailers must also make an entry in the SCIP database for each product.
Eurofins | BLC have developed analytical methods for the detection of melamine in both chemical formulations and finished consumer goods. Simply email [email protected] with your enquiry and our Chemical Expert will respond.
22 May 2023