At the end of last year (18 December) the European Commission published Regulation 2018/2015, which amends the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Annex XVII entry 51 related to certain phthalates including bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP).
Phthalates, or phthalate esters, are esters of phthalic acid. They are mainly used as plasticisers: substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity at a low cost. They are used primarily to soften polyvinyl chloride. In textiles, phthalates can be found in synthetic fibres, synthetic/natural fibre blends and in print paste and finishing.
Some of the main changes introduced in the amendments are that the restrictions will apply to every article (unless specifically exempted), not just for toys and childcare articles as was the case previously. Also, one additional phthalate has been added: DIBP (CAS N°84–69-5). Current restricted phthalates are DEHP, DBP, BBP. And additionally, clarifications have been added to better define the meaning of ‘plasticised materials’, ‘prolonged contact with human skin’ and ‘childcare articles’.
However, the restriction shall not apply to certain articles, such as those exclusively for industrial or agricultural use or for use exclusively in the open air provided that no plasticised material comes into contact with human mucous membranes or into prolonged contact with human skin.
The regulation will enter into force on 7 January 2019, the amended restriction for DIBP in toys or childcare articles (entry 51.2), and DEHP, DBP, BBP, DIBP in other articles (entry 51.3) will apply from 7 July 2020.
