EU's REACH Regulations Limit for Cadmium in Paints

FANLING, China - March 22, 2016 - PRLog -- Restrictions Protect Against Cadmium Toxicity

In July 2015, SGS Safeguards reported that the World Trade Organization (WTO) had circulated a notification from the EU to announce a proposed amendment to the scope of cadmium under ANNEX XVII of REACH. [1]

On February 17, 2016, Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/217 was published in the Official Journal of the EU (OJEU) amending the use of cadmium in paints with HS codes [3208] and [3209]. [2] The new law amends paragraph 2 of entry 23 under ANNEX XVII of REACH by restricting cadmium to a concentration of less than 0.01% in these paints. The restriction of cadmium in paints on painted articles and in paints with HS codes [3208] and [3209] containing more than 10% zinc remains unchanged.

Details and Definitions for Paint Manufacturers

According to the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System,

- HS code [3208] is paints and varnishes (including enamels and lacquers) based on synthetic polymers or chemically modified natural polymers, dispersed or dissolved in a non-aqueous medium

- HS code [3209] is paints and varnishes (including enamels and lacquers) based on synthetic polymers or chemically modified natural polymers, dispersed or dissolved in an aqueous medium

The new law will take effect starting March 7, 2016.

Highlights of the new law and a comparison with existing Regulation (EU) 494/2011 on the aforementioned scope of the restriction of cadmium are summarized in Table 1 (http://www.sgs.com/en/news/2016/02/safeguards-04316-eu-sp...) in the latest Safeguards bulletin.

References:

[1] Safeguards no 115/15 (www.sgs.com/en/news/2015/07/safeguards-11515-eu-proposes-to-amend-cadmium-in-certain-paints-under-reach), July 9, 2015.

[2] Official Journal of the European Union, February 17, 2016, Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/2017 (eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0217&from=EN).

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