Transcript EFRA - general overview presentation

Flame Retardant Product
Risk Assessments
Veronique Steukers, 1 April 2003
Chemicals – building trust
• Flame Retardants (FRs) are necessary to guarantee current
level of safety for consumers and are indispensible for
current daily life!
• Public trust in chemicals has been undermined based on
legitimate as well as unfounded concerns
• Regulators and industry need to:
– Limit effects on environment and human health
– Take action to address legitimate concerns
– Challenge unfounded concerns
– Rebuild trust
EU Chemicals Policy – The future
• Legislative proposals to be launched by EU Commission in
April 2003: „REACH“ = Registration, Evaluation &
Authorisation of Chemicals
– Shorter and more effective process evaluating existing
chemicals
– Industry will be conducting scientific research, not EU
Member States
– However, scientific research will be assessed by EU
authorities
– ALL manufacturers and users of existing chemicals will
require increased data behind their products: mandatory
co-operation in REACH
EU Future Chemicals Policy
• Three Possible Outcomes from Scientific Assessments
Interpretation
Ban
or
Risk
Reduction
Measures
or
Approved
as
Safe
Impact on textiles
• Chemicals used by textiles industry will fall in each of the
three baskets
• Opportunity in Orange Basket:
– If you can demonstrate risks can be managed, you will
avoid restrictions
Industry Managing Risks
• Examples:
– Voluntary Emissions Reduction Measures means
• Less environmental concerns
– Voluntary safety measures means:
• Less exposure to workers & human health concerns
Less FR products banned or less imposed risk reduction
measures on user industries
More choice/products available on the FR market
maintaining competitivity and innovation
EU Risk Assessments – What is it?
• European Regulation 793/93/EEC
• Assesses the risks the substance poses to human health &
the environment
– = hazard (tox properties) x exposure e.g.
• Pb in gasoline: high exposure through emission so RISK
• Pb in crystal: no exposure so NO RISK
• Several brominated and halogenated phosphorous flame
retardants are undergoing risk assessment
Current Risk Assessments - update
• Brominated FRs
– Decabromodiphenyl ether (DecaBDE)
– Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)
• Antimony trioxide (ATO)
• Phosphorous FRs
– Tris (2-chloro-1-methylethyl)phophate (TCPP)
– Tris [2-chloro-1-(chloromethyl)ethyl]phophate (TDCP)
EU Risk Assessment of BFRs
• Deca-BDE – final conclusions in June / September 2003
– Deca is critical as it will set standard for all evaluations
of chemicals
– Interim report
• Human health – no concern
• Environmental impact show no significant risks, but
need further data
• No classification as dangerous substance
• HBCD - final discussion in September 2003?
– Interim report:
• Concerns identified in certain areas but also need for
further data
EU Risk Assessment of ATO
– First report
• No classification as acutely or chronically toxic for the
aquatic environment (no dead fish & tree)
• Several studies still ongoing
• First draft report in May 2003
• First discussion at EU level in June 2003
EU Risk Assessments of PFRs
• TCPP:
– First report:
• Draft environmental report indicate need for further
testing – testing program ongoing
• Human health first report possibly in August 2003
• First discussion second half 2003
• TDCP
– First report
• Draft environmental report indicate need for further
testing – testing program ongoing
• Human health first report possibly in August
• First discussion second half 2003
DecaBDE Risk Reduction
• Despite lack of risk, risk reduction based on concerns on
findings of decaBDE in the environment – February 2003
– Discussion group incorporating Authorities, green NGOs
and industry
• EBFRIP, APME, EuPC, TFA agreed to participate
• Several individual companies requested to be
consulted during the process
– Important precedent setting for other chemicals
undergoing risk evaluation!
Conclusion
Emissions reduction is key to sustainable
use of FRs
• Even if products not toxic, it is a concern that some are
found increasingly in the environment
• This trend is not acceptable for the industry
• Nor is it accepted by regulators, non governmental
organisations or the public
Norwegian EPA: „Conclusions [from the report on BFRs] are
not alarming due to the brominated flame retardants‘ levels
recorded. Concern was due to the substances being
detected at all.“
Industry Managing Emissions
Regulators will impose restrictions on the use
of chemicals which are deemed to be of
concern and which are NOT being managed
Let‘s work together to manage emissions and
waste going into the environment
More info…
• www.cefic-efra.com
• www.ebfrip.org
• www.bsef.com
• www.iaoia.org
• www.firesafetyinfo.org