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REACH: new restriction on Bisphenol A in thermal papers (EU)

Regulation (EU) 2016/2235 of 12 December 2016 amends Annex XVII to the REACH Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of 18 December 2006 on the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals, as well as the restrictions applicable to these substances) in order to restrict the manufacture, placing on the market and use of substances, mixtures and articles containing bisphenol A. The new Regulation prohibits as from 2 January 2020 the placing on the market of thermal papers (case tickets, for example) containing bisphenol A at a concentration equal to or greater than 0.02% by weight.

This modification is the culmination of a process initiated more than two years ago. Indeed, on 19 March 2014, on the initiative of France, the risk assessment committee of the ECHA (the European Chemicals Agency) had been in favor of a more severe classification of bisphenol A by proposing the modification of its toxicity level: from the category “reprotoxic suspected” (category 2 hazard code H361f) to the category “toxic for reproduction” (category 1B hazard code H360F).

The ECHA then submitted this opinion to the European Commission, which had to decide whether or not to change the classification of bisphenol A in the CLP (Classification, Labeling and Packaging) Regulation. On 26 October 2016, the European Commission had consequently put online several draft regulations and implementing decisions to amend the Reach and CLP Regulations.

Thus, Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation, concerning restrictions on the manufacture, placing on the market and use of certain dangerous substances and certain mixtures and articles, now states that Bisphenol A may not be “placed on the market in thermal paper at a concentration equal to or greater than 0.02% by weight after 2 January 2020”.

Sources :

Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/2235 of 12 December 2016 amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as regards bisphenol A, OJ L 337, 13.12.2016, p. 3–5

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