ECHA has identified a few flame retardants, mainly aromatic brominated flame retardants as candidates for an EU-wide restriction. Restriction would hopefully minimise the exposure of people and the environment to these substances which are considered to be persistent, potentially bioaccumulative and toxic.
Aromatic brominated flame retardants, such as PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers), are widely used in plastics, textiles, electronic castings, circuitry and generally persistent in the environment. Many, like Deca-BDE (decabromodiphenylether), are also suspected of being toxic and accumulating in people and animals. BFR-treated products, whether in use or waste, release BFRs into the environment and contaminate the air, soil and water. The release of these contaminants could be minimized through an EU-wide restriction.
Before a potential restriction proposal, some assessment work is required to find out if hazardous substances are released when products containing flame retardants are disassembled, recycled, or dumped. Assessment includes checking on the availability of suitable alternative substances or materials.
The restriction scope could cover all aromatic BFRs that are listed or will be confirmed to be PBT or vPvB through harmonized classification or identification as substances of very high concern (SVHCs).
Assessment results and data are expected to be available from 2024 onwards. ECHA suggests reassessing the situation for these groups in 2025.
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