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Chemicals
Reactions to chemicals
The IntertechPira Cleaning Products Europe conference was held in Brussels in
October. Chemicals was a big topic of discussion among participants, with a focus on
regulation. Gerardine Coyne reports
T
he classification of chemicals has a ripple effect on a range of human health and the environment through the identification of the
areas – from supply chain, down to the type of personal intrinsic properties of chemical substances. Innovative capability and
protective equipment needed for the user. competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry should be enhanced.
The Globally Harmonised System (GHS) is an international system However, as Dr Joanna Lloyd, director of Reachready UK, revealed
to unify the classification of hazardous chemicals. Its objectives are in her presentation, many companies missed the pre-registration for
firstly the worldwide harmonisation of different classification and REACH last year, so businesses should be checking that their suppliers
labelling systems of preparations and substances, and are abiding by REACH.
secondly to offer a system to countries that do not have Every company that has pre-registered a substance is
one at present. It is also used to classify hazardous now in a Pre-SIEF (Substance Information Exchange
substances handled in the workplace or by consumers, Forum) discussion group with companies that also pre-
and substances handled in transport. registered that same substance, for example, ethanol. The
GHS expert, Bernd Glassl, of IKW, Germany, talked the group has to come together to agree test data, and agree
attendees through the changes and problems expected and apportion costs and further tests. Lloyd said that
with Classification and Labelling Regulations (CLP). currently any disagreements centred
around companies sharing information
X marks the spot and working together, not chemical safety
Most people are familiar with the black cross inside the orange box issues. However, 9000 substances are
which indicates that a substance is Harmful or an Irritant, and the produced and used in the EU, and anyone
skull and crossbones which indicates that a substance is Toxic or Very who imports or manufactures over 1000
Toxic. However, the categories Very Toxic, Toxic, Harmful and No Label tonnes of a substance has to have
will be changing to Danger Category 1, 2 and 3, and Warning. This is registered by December 2010.“If your
because the amount of ‘harmful’ ingredient allowed in a product has supplier has not registered,” says Lloyd,
been further restricted, resulting in an updated classification system. “you have a problem.You are part of the supply chain and your
For example a product previously classed as No Label in the old procurement teams should be confirming that procedure is being
system could contain up to 5% of a substance corrosive or irritative to followed.”
skin. In the future any substance that contains more than 1% will be The irony is that there have been lots of pre-cautionary pre-
labelled as Warning, and only products that contain less than 1% will registrations, but only around 30% of those companies really have
remain unlabelled. For products corrosive or irritative to eyes, the need says Lloyd. These companies are delaying the process and
previously up to 10% of an irritant substance was allowed. This will be want to know what’s going on,‘just in case’. If you are aiming for the
reduced to 3% and under. If it is over 3% the substance will have a 2010 registration, the SIEF you belong to should have established a
Danger label. facilitator and rules of procedure.“Do not be complacent,” warns
These changes will affect the labelling of everyday cleaning Lloyd.
products. Drain cleaners, toilet cleaners, dishwashing formulas, special
cleaners and heavy duty detergents will all now be labelled Corrosive. A matter of substance
All purpose cleaners, glass cleaners and softeners will be labelled Non The main question companies should ask is,‘Can we support this
Corrosive. Under the old rules, all of these products would have been particular substance in this formulation?’ If a substance appears on
labelled with the black cross and classified as Harmful, with the the Candidate List for Substances of Very High Concern for
exception of drain cleaner which was labelled Corrosive. authorisation, (a list published by the European Chemicals Agency
Glassl says the problem is that the new CLP concentration limits and due to be updated in November 2009), there are obligations on
may not reflect the severity of the effects, i.e., they paint a blacker an article containing above 0.1% (w/w) of that CL substance. EU or
picture than what would actually happen, should there be misuse. EEA suppliers of those articles have to provide sufficient information,
“There is now a potential problem with over labelling, meaning over available to them, to their customers or upon consumer request
cautious labelling. We say that concentration limits need to be within 45 days of the receipt of the request. This information must
realistic,” says Glassl.“This is very important for SMEs (small and ensure safe use of the article and contain the name of the substance.
medium sized enterprises). However, this cannot be changed at an EU “Any of us could go to a retailer and say,‘Does this product contain
level, it needs to be considered at a UN level.” a substance on the CL?’, and demand a response within 45 days,” says
Lloyd.“For retailers this is now a brand issue.” Retailers will want to
Out of REACH? know exactly what is in a product, and if it does contain a CL
In order to label substances, it needs to be known what is in them. substance, there will be pressure on the supplier to phase it out.
REACH deals with the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and “Nobody can do REACH for you,” ends Lloyd, “but everybody needs a
Restriction of Chemical substances. The new law entered into force plan.”
42627 or cleaning-matters.co.uk/enquiry
on 1 June 2007. The aim of REACH is to improve the protection of www.cleaningproductseurope.com Tel: 01372 802017
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