European Precious Metals Federation (EPMF) have provided an update regarding Silver Assessment of Regulatory Needs. Following the classification of Silver metal and associated substances as Reprotoxic 1B, the focus is also now of Silver Compounds, their assessment and management in Europe.
Assessment of Regulatory Needs for Silver is now available.
ECHA have grouped together 43 structurally similar silver compounds based on the presence of silver in the structure (Ag, Ag+). From the substances registered under REACH by the EPMF, Silver metal and silver nitrate have highest tonnages and more diverse uses.
Conclusions:
- Silver metal and compounds: Compliance check for silver metal, silver carbonate and silver sub-group 2 (disilver oxide, silver bromide, silver chloride, silver iodide)
- Potential next steps for all (including sub-group 1, silver highly soluble compounds: silver nitrate, acetate (not registered), methane sulphonate and disilver sulphate) : CLH (repro 1B, already ongoing for silver nitrate based on read-across with silver acetate) assessment on a grouping approach
- Potential last action: OEL via OHS or via a restriction
- ED assessment mentioned
- Potassium dicyanoargentate: Pending action: assessment of study muta (cf. TPE); Potential next action: CLH/SVHC identification (ED assessment)
- Silver cyanide: currently not possible to assess regulatory needs
- Actions (including data generation) will be re-considered when the assessment will be revisited if the registration status changes. Self or harmonised classification for human health and aquatic toxicity followed by implementation of necessary RRMs should be sufficient to ensure safe use.
Overall, no major surprise and a proposal of an OELs aligned with the outcome of the RMOa conducted on silver compounds.
The EPMF will conduct a thorough analysis of the rationales and send to ECHA comments if needed.
If this is likely to impact BIVDA members, please let us know via regulatory@bivda.org.uk.
