EU REACH – European Union Publishes Regulation (EU) 2018/2005 Amending the Phthalates Restriction in Entry 51 of REACH Annex XVII

Vol. 1050 | 19 Dec 2018

The European Commission has published Regulation (EU) 2018/2005 in the EU Official Journal. The regulation amends Entry 51 of Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) on bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP).

The amendment introduces a restriction on these phthalates plasticised materials in articles. The phthalates should not be present in an article individually or in any combination of the phthalates in a concentration equal to or greater than 0,1 % by weight.

These substances are widely used as plasticisers for polymer material. The restriction may have a significant impact on products which may contain these substances.

The types of products which may potentially be impacted by a proposed restriction include consumer goods such as artificial leather goods, including handbags, belts and garments, and footwear with synthetic components.

The phthalate substances which are subject to restriction are detailed below:

Substance	EU number	CAS number
Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)	201-553-2	84-69-5
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)	201-557-4	84-74-2
Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP)	201-622-7	85-68-7
Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)	204-211-0	117-81-7

The regulation also introduces the restriction on DIBP in toys and childcare articles.

The additional restrictions on the phthalates under Entry 51 will become effective from 7 July 2020.

A link to the published restriction is below:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2018.322.01.0014.01.ENG&toc=OJ:L:2018:322:TOC

For additional information please contact:

Mike Redshaw
Technical Knowledge Manager
Global Softlines
+44 (0)1942 265700