2. Regulation of Chemicals

Abstract

EC Regulation 1907/2006 Concerning the Regulation, Evaluation, and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH Regulation) (OJ 2006 L 396/1) is a work in progress, being under review and subject to further amendment every year. These amendments are presented below. EU Regulation 2017/227 amends Annex XVII of REACH (OJ 2017 L 35/6), introducing restrictions on the manufacture, placing on the market, and use of certain dangerous substances, preparations, and articles regarding bis(pentabromophenyl)ether (decaBDE). However, EU Regulation 2017/227 incorporates exceptions on these stipulations, allowing the use of decaBDE for the production of an aircraft (civil, military) before 2 March 2027 and for motor vehicles before 2 March 2019. EU Commission Regulation 2017/735 amends the Annex to EC Regulation 440/2008 laying down test methods pursuant to EC Regulation no. 1907/2006 (OJ 2017 L 112/1). EU Regulation 2017/735 introduces new and updated test methods for the determination of a physicochemical property, for the assessment of ecotoxicity, to assess the environmental fate and behaviour for the determination of effects on human health. It also deletes six test methods for which the corresponding Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development test guidelines have been cancelled.