EU round up: ECHA first authorisation probe shows paint industry compliance

Paints and coatings companies within the European Union (EU) have been found to be obeying rules under the EU REACH chemical control system regarding the special controls for 4,4’-Diaminodiphenylmethane (MDA), an aromatic diamine used as a hardener for epoxy coatings.

Businesses were assessed in a special pilot check by the European Chemicals Authority (ECHA) on compliance with REACH’s authorisation rules, which prevents the use of certain toxic chemicals unless there is specific permission or a use has a special ‘exemption’ from these controls.

ECHA assessed 235 companies and found that 229 of them had not sold the chemical, while 228 did not use it. Six companies sold it for an exempted use; three sold it legally as an intermediate chemical; and four sold it for scientific research. Seven companies used MDA for an exempted use; six used it legally as an intermediate; and three were for scientific research.

• Elsewhere in the EU, ECHA has warned that a further tightening of controls under the EU biocidal products regulation is looming ­ from September 1, articles treated with biocidal products can only be placed on the market if the active substances are approved in the EU. That is the deadline for companies to apply for the approval of active substances used in treated articles and which are not yet under assessment under the regulation’s screening process. See http://echa.europa.eu/regulations/biocidal-products-regulation/upcoming-deadlines

• ECHA has also announced that it will halt updates on its REACH guidance from May 31, 2016, giving companies two years of regulatory stability before the May 31, 2018, deadline for registering chemicals used or imported into the EU in quantities of more than one tonne per year.

• The Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) has called for urgent research to be undertaken into the potential risks on health and ecosystems from the increasing amount of nano-materials – some used in paints and coatings – that are being placed in household waste. From there, they enter landfills, incinerators and wastewater treatment facilities not designed to filter out tiny nanoparticles, as tiny as a millionth of a millimetre in size. These antibacterials can cause cancer and antimicrobial resistance, warns the OECD, which notes that special facilities for processing nano-waste do not exist. http://www.oecd.org/environment/waste/nanomaterials-in-waste-streams-9789264249752-en.htm