RAC supports the restriction of siloxanes in personal care products and concludes on several hazardous classifications

In its plenary meeting held from 29 February to 10 March, the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) agreed to support the proposal of the UK to restrict the placing on the market of siloxane substances Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5). Both substances are high tonnage substances in Europe and have direct uses in personal care products, cosmetics, cleaning products and a wide range of other uses. D4 is a persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) substance and D5 is a very persistent, very bioaccumulative (vPvB) substance as agreed by the Member State Committee. Due to these properties, they have a potential to accumulate in the environment and cause effects that are unpredictable in the long-term and are difficult to reverse.

The restriction is targeted at the use of D4 and D5 in personal care products that are intended to be used or disposed with water, e.g. shower gels, shaving foams and shampoos. These uses are a major source of these substances to the aquatic environment in the EU.

RAC also agreed on three draft opinions on the uses of chromium trioxide in functional chrome plating, functional chrome plating with decorative character, and etching. The committee also discussed the key issues identified in the 27 applications for authorisation mainly concerned with chromates that were received in the November 2015 submission window.

The committee also adopted several opinions on harmonised classification and labelling:

• Amisulbrom - RAC agreed to the proposal by the United Kingdom to classify Amisulbrom (ISO) as a substance which is irritant to eyes (Eye Irrit. 2; H319), which is suspected of causing cancer (Carc. 2; H351) and which is very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects (Aquatic Acute 1; H400 and Aquatic Chronic 1; H410), with M=10 for both aquatic hazards.
• flutianil (ISO) - RAC considered that the evidence provided was not robust enough for classification
• chlorocresol - RAC also agreed to amend the classification as a skin sensitiser into Skin Sens. 1B (H317) based on the available data
• salicylic acid - RAC agreed to the proposal by industry to classify salicylic acid as harmful if swallowed (Acute Tox. 4; H302) and as causing serious eye damage (Eye Dam. 1; H318). RAC agreed to classify salicylic acid as a substance which is suspected of damaging the unborn child (Repr. 2; H361d); the dossier submitter had proposed no classification.
• isoeugenol - RAC agreed to the proposal by the Netherlands to classify isoeugenol as a strong skin sensitiser (Skin Sens. 1A; H317). RAC also decided to set a specific concentration limit of 0.01%. Therefore, when present at concentrations equal to or greater than 0.001% in a mixture, the name of the substance must be indicated on the label
• Pyroxsulam - RAC agreed to the proposal by the United Kingdom to classify Pyroxsulam (ISO) as a skin sensitiser (Skin. Sens. 1; H317) and as very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects (Aquatic Acute 1; H400 and Aquatic Chronic 1; H410), with M=100 for both aquatic hazard classes.
• 2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one - RAC agreed to the proposal by Slovenia to classify MIT (ISO) as fatal if inhaled (Acute Tox. 2; H330) and as toxic if swallowed and if in contact with skin (Acute Tox. 3; H301 and H311), as causing severe skin burns and eye damage (Skin Corr. 1B; H314), as a highly potent skin sensitiser (Skin Sens. 1A; H317) with an specific concentration limit (SCL) of 0.0015% (15 ppm), and as very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects (Aquatic Acute 1; H400 and Aquatic Chronic 1; H410), with M=10 for the acute and M=1 for the long-term aquatic hazard. RAC also decided to assign the supplemental hazard statement “Corrosive to the respiratory tract” (EUH071).

More details of these opinions are available in the annex.

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• Source: ECHA Press Release - ECHA/NA/16/10