September 19, 2012, ECHA updated the REACH Annex XVII (Restriction List) by including phenyl mercury compounds in the list (amendment No. 848/2012).
Background:REACH Annex XVII sets out the list of restrictions on the manufacture, placing on the market and use of certain dangerous chemical substances, mixtures and articles. The Annex contains the restrictions of the marketing and use of dangerous substances adopted since 1976 in the framework of Directive 76/769/EEC, as well as subsequent restrictions adopted under REACH.
Title VIII and Annex XVII to REACH came into force on 1 June 2009.
In 2008 a review of Annex XVII was launched in consultation with all interested parties with the objective of harmonising the terminology, deleting obsolete provisions, adapting the provisions to the definitions under REACH and including some of the restrictions adopted under Directive 76/769/EEC. The revised Annex XVII was adopted on 22 June 2009.
The new REACH list of restrictionsAccording to the new list of restrictions, substances, mixtures and articles or any parts containing phenylmercury equal to or greater than 0.01 % by weight, shall not be placed on the market of the EU after 10 October 2017.
REACH further places restriction on use of mercury in fever thermometers, measuring devices containing mercury and other types of thermometers. The following mercury-containing measuring devices intended for industrial and professional uses shall not be placed on the market after 10 April 2014:
- barometers;
- hygrometers;
- manometers;
- sphygmomanometers;
- strain gauges to be used with plethysmographs;
- tensiometers;
- thermometers and other non-electrical thermometric applications
- mercury pycnometers;
Related information
eur-lex: COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 848/2012 of 19 September 2012 amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as regards phenylmercury compounds
EC: REACH - Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals ECHA: European Chemicals Agency
Related EVISA Resources EVISA Brief summary: REACH EVISA Link Database: Toxicity of organo-mercurials EVISA Link Database: Legislation related to organo-mercurials
Related EVISA News June
19, 2011: Committee for Socio-economic Analysis agrees on two draft
opinions on restriction proposals for mercury compounds under REACH June 7, 2011: European Commission announces ban on cadmium in plastics December 1, 2010: ECHA reports the final REACH registration numbers - Nearly 25,000 dossiers September 25, 2010: The European Chemical Agency (ECHA) calls for
comments on reports proposing restrictions on mercury and phenylmercury March 10: 2010: ECHA suggests further chemicals for SVHC list September 18, 2008: REACH Update: List of 300 chemicals of very high concern
last time modified: September 27, 2012
