EC/366/2011 & EC/494/2011- REACH amendments

European Commission Regulation 366/2011 published 5 May and EC/494/2011 which will come into force on 12 January 2012

5 May 2011 / January 2012

Chemicals - EU

European Commission Regulation 366/2011 amends Regulation 1907/2006 to include acrylamide (commonly used in construction grout) in Annex XVII of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation (2006/1907/EC). Regulation 366/2011 came into force on 5 May.

The European Commission has also issued a separate Regulation 494/2011 which also amends Annex XVII. It effectively bans the use of cadmium in jewellery, plastics and brazing sticks in the EU.

In relation to plastics, the new legislation prohibits cadmium in all plastic products, though the recovery of PVC waste that contains cadmimum for use in a number of construction products will be encouraged. A specific logo will be introduced to inform buyers of products made of this recovered PVC.

Regulation 494/2011 comes into force on 12 January 2012.