On November 20, 2007, the German Federal Committee on Technical Equipment and Consumer Products (AtAV) resolved that, starting April 1, 2008, all GS certification bodies must mandate the inclusion of products certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in their PAH testing requirements. At the ZEK meeting in September 2011, the AtAV committee agreed to expand the current PAH list from 16 to 18 items, applying it to the testing of all products.
Two new PAHs compounds have been added:
| Chemical name | CAS NO. |
| Benzo[j]fluoranthen | 205-82-3 |
| Benzo[e]pyren | 192-97-2 |
Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs) are commonly found in petrochemical products, rubber, plastics, lubricants, rust inhibitors, and incompletely combusted organic compounds. Some are also residues in products due to their application in manufacturing processes, such as in the manufacture of plastics, dyes, and pesticides. PAHs may also be found in plastic and rubber materials in electronic and electrical products, black or dark-colored rigid polymer materials, surface coatings and paints, and preservatives used in brush bristles, leather, fibers, and wood. Furthermore, the PAHs listed have been proven to be carcinogenic.
GS MARK – PAHs List (Comparison with EU REACH Annex 17 and US EPA-regulated PAHs)
| 化合物 | CAS NO | REACH Annex XVII | US EPA | GS MARK New PAHs |
| Naphthalene | 91-20-3 | | V | V |
| Acenaphthylene | 208-96-8 | | V | V |
| Acenaphthene | 83-32-9 | | V | V |
| Fluorene | 86-73-7 | | V | V |
| Phenanthrene | 85-1-8 | | V | V |
| Anthracene | 120-12-7 | | V | V |
| Fluoranthene | 206-44-0 | | V | V |
| Pyrene | 129-00-0 | | V | V |
| Chrysene | 218-01-9 | V | V | V |
| Benzo[a]anthracene | 56-55-3 | V | V | V |
| Benzo[b]fluoranthene | 205-99-2 | V | V | V |
| Benzo[k]fluoranthene | 207-08-9 | V | V | V |
| Benzo[a]pyrene | 50-32-8 | V | V | V |
| Dibenzo[a,h]anthrancene | 53-70-3 | V | V | V |
| Indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene | 193-39-5 | | V | V |
| Benzo[g,h,i]perylene | 191-24-2 | | V | V |
| Benzo[j]fluoranthen | 205-82-3 | V | | V |
| Benzo[e]pyren | 192-97-2 | V | | V |
In response to the new PAHs requirements, the German Safety Technology Certification Center (ZLS) published a new version of ZEK 01.4-08 on November 29, 2011. The transition period was from the date of publication to July 1, 2012, and the requirements are as follows:
(1) For products that have obtained GS Mark certification, 18 PAHs are mandatory starting from July 1, 2012.
(2) GS Mark certification certificates issued since July 1, 2012 must comply with the new version of ZEK 01.4-08.
According to ZEK 01.4-08, the GS MARK limits for PAHs are as follows:
| Classification | product | Benzo[a]Pyrene Limits | Total limits for 18 PAHs |
| Category 1 | Materials and toys that children under 36 months old will put in their mouths | Not detectable (<0.2 mg/kg) 1) | Not detectable (<0.2 mg/kg) 1) |
| Category 2 | a. Materials not belonging to Category 1; and b. Materials that come into contact with skin for more than 30 seconds (prolonged skin contact). | 1 mg/kg | 10 mg/kg |
| Category 3 | a. Materials not belonging to Class I or II; and b. Skin contact for less than 30 seconds (short-term skin contact). | 20 mg/kg | 200 mg/kg |
Note 1) If the test results exceed the limits for Category I products but meet the limits for Category II products, regardless of whether the product comes into contact with food or can be put in the mouth, the PAH content must be confirmed by the migration test in DIN EN 1186 and § 64 LFBG 80.30-1 according to food requirements.
Source: Intertek
For related information, please see:ZEK 01.4-08.
