The European Commission's updated REACH Restrictions Roadmap includes work on a potential restriction for substances in critical fibre form that may release biopersistent fibre dusts. The initiative draws on a German assessment covering a wide range of fibre materials, including nanofibres and carbon nanotubes.
Potential REACH Restriction on Fibre-Form Substances Added to EU Roadmap
NIA Staff
1 min read
Summary
The European Commission has included a potential restriction on substances in critical fibre form in its updated REACH Restrictions Roadmap, signalling further regulatory scrutiny of fibre materials with carcinogenic properties.
The initiative, submitted by Germany, would cover substances, mixtures and articles that may release biopersistent fibre dusts meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) fibre criteria. It builds on a Regulatory Management Option Analysis (RMOA) carried out by the German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), which examined a broad range of fibre-form materials, including nanofibres and carbon nanotubes.
While the inclusion of the initiative on the roadmap does not predetermine the outcome of the regulatory process, it marks an important step towards the possible development of REACH restriction measures for certain fibre-form substances. The scope, requirements and timeline of any future restriction have yet to be defined.
