UV stabilisers commonly found in plastics are:
- UV-328 (EC: 247-384-8; CAS: 25973-55-1),
- UV-327 (EC: 223-383-8; CAS: 3864-99-1),
- UV-350 (EC: 253-037-1; CAS: 36437-37-3),
- UV-320 (EC: 223-346-6; CAS: 3846-71-7) )
After its inclusion into Annex A to the Stockholm Convention, ECHA opened a call for comments and evidence for UV-328. This consultation closed on 18 August 2023. ECHA published its screening report on what regulatory actions should be taken on UV-328 and three other Benzotriazoles (UV-320, -327 and -350).
ECHA recommendations:
- UV-328 specifically:
- There is information that indicates that the use or presence of the substance in articles would lead to releases to the environment. However, the resulting risk is expected to be addressed by the EU POP Regulation.
- This will happen when the EU implements the control measures resulting from the listing of UV-328 in Annex A of the Stockholm Convention by including it in Annex I to the EU POP Regulation. This is expected to happen in the first half of 2024.
- Therefore, under REACH Article 69(2), ECHA’s view is that at present there is no need to prepare an Annex XV REACH Restriction dossier.
- UV-320, UV-327 and UV-350:
- Unlike UV-328 these three phenolic benzotriazoles have not been proposed to be reviewed under the Stockholm Convention. Therefore, the EU POP Regulation is not a potential route for their risk management.
- ECHA’s view is that the requirements to prepare an Annex XV dossier for restriction (on all or selected) uses of these substances in articles are met.
- The timing of the restriction dossier development will be identified at a later stage.
What remains to be seen is the
- Potential Restriction dossier development of UV-320, -327 and -350 (and therefore not UV-328), and, (timeline remains to be confirmed)
- Final implementation of the Stockholm Convention of UV-328 (via the EU POPs Regulation), expected in the first half of 2024. Once we see this text, we will inform members.
This information is kindly provided by MedTech Europe.
