歐盟環保標章增加清潔用品符合性要求 歐盟委員會於今年 (2017) 6月將針對清潔用品增加更嚴格的環保標章申請符合性要求。新增的符合性要求於2016年11月就已經通過會員國確認。 比較重大的變革包括： – 產品中不能添加塑膠微粒； – 刪除慢性第三類 (H412) 的香精添加減量條文； – 更嚴格的防腐劑要求，只能添加產品最少需要量； – 生物基產品來源必須為永續種植，而棕櫚油、棕櫚仁油以及其他衍生物需提供永續來源認證； – 使用超過80%回收再生材料的包裝可以免除其他包裝相關的要求。 更新的環保標章符合性要求涵蓋\下列六類產品： – 全功\能清潔劑以及衛生設施的清潔用品； – 手洗餐\具洗滌劑； – 餐\具洗滌劑； – 工業用以及商用自動餐\具洗滌劑； – 工業用以及商用洗衣劑； – 洗衣劑。 當新的環保標章符合性要求在六月生效後，所有已取得環保標章的企業會有12到18個月的過渡期來調整產品以符合新的要求。 歐盟委員會政策工作小組召集人Kristine

The European Commission clarifies the scope of textile CMR restrictions. The European Commission has proposed a draft to restrict the use of 286 chemical substances in textiles that are carcinogenic, mutagenic and reproductively toxic. After a year-long public consultation period, the European Commission is preparing restrictions that are expected to be formally proposed to the REACH Committee this summer. This draft divides the restriction of harmful substances into two stages. The restriction requirements will prioritize textiles with "direct and long-term contact with the skin". In addition to clothing and footwear, this section also covers some textile products such as bed sheets, pillowcases and towels. In February this year, the European Commission held a stakeholder meeting and invited industry associations, academic experts, industry and NGOs to participate in the discussion of the textile category in the draft. During the meeting, the industry association believed that the classification of "direct and long-term contact with skin" is too general and must be stated in detail. After all, consumers' habits of using textile products vary greatly. Buttons, zippers and other non-textile items are often used on textile products. Whether these items are also covered by the draft must be clarified. In particular, which raw materials can be excluded from the above draft restrictions and should be listed in detail. The European Commission proposes to restrict the following chemical substances and similar substances in textiles: – formaldehyde; – cadmium, chromium, arsenic and lead compounds; – chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons; – phthalates; – polar aprotic solvents; &#8211

The EU Emission Guidelines recommend limits for five hazardous substances in indoor building materials. Based on the EU Lowest Concentrations of Interests (EU-LCI) guidelines, the emission limits for five types of chemical substances present in indoor building materials are announced. The five chemical substances regulated are as follows: – 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol monoisobutyrate (2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol monoisobutyrate), limit value 0.3 mg/m3; – 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate (2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate), limit value 1.3 mg/m3; – 2-methyl 2-methyl-1-propanol, with a limit of 11 mg/m3; – 2-phenoxyethanol, with a limit of 1.3 mg/m3; and – isopropylbenzene ), limit value 1.5 mg/m3. The above-mentioned LCI values were proposed by the German Environmental Protection Agency (UBA) and are hoped to be integrated into the EU-LCI by the end of 2019.

The European Commission adopts a lower phenol limit for toys. The European Commission adopts a new phenol (phenol) migration limit for toys for children under three years old, requiring that it not exceed 5 mg/L; if phenol is used for preservatives, its content must not exceed 10 mg/kg. Phenol is usually a monomer of phenolic resin used in the manufacture of plywood toys, and the degradation of phenolic antioxidants in the polymer may also be another source of phenol. Phenol has been identified in game console exhaust, children's tents or tunnels, and packaging films. It has also been found in children's bath toys or inflatable toys and PVC. Phenol is commonly used as a preservative in: - Water-based liquid toys, such as bubble blowing products; - Water-based liquid ink in felt-tip pens or color pens. This restriction will come into effect on November 4, 2018. Source: Chemical Watch (2017-05-05) (PIDC compilation)

ECHA releases the latest version of the Substance Specification Guidelines for finished products The European Chemical Agency (ECHA) has finally released the long-awaited final revision of the Substance Specification Guidelines for finished products. ECHA stated that this "comprehensive update" guideline, which was originally supposed to be released in 2016, will provide manufacturers with more information on how to fulfill their communication and reporting obligations when SVHC is contained in finished products. The guidance includes many new case studies, all of which are consistent with the definition of "finished product" by the Court of Justice of the European Union and 2015. The SVHC 0.1% weight percentage limit specified in the REACH regulations is for "each independent component in a complex product", rather than for a single product. Due to the updated definition of finished products, the Guidelines also provide new illustrative examples for businesses to check whether Article 7 and Article 33 of the REACH regulations are applicable. Article 7(2) requires manufacturers and importers to notify ECHA if the product contains more than 1 ton of SVHC per manufacturer or importer/year and the content is greater than 0.11 TP3T weight percent. Article 33 stipulates that companies must respond to consumers’ information about SVHC containing more than 0.11 TP3T weight percentage in products within 45 days. For detailed guidance on substance specifications for finished products, please refer to the attachment: Guidance on requirements for substances in articles_