NPEs soon to require authorization

Companies that process nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) or use products containing them must prepare for the fact that these substances will soon require authorization. Anyone wishing to use these substances in future must submit an application for authorization to the ECHA by July 4, 2019. Preparing an application for authorization is very time-consuming, warn the hazardous substance experts at DEKRA. To make sure that they don’t miss the deadline, companies should start preparing their applications at least nine months in advance.

All 4-Nonylphenol (branched and linear) ethoxylates used alone or in mixtures are affected by the REACH regulation (EU Regulation No. 1907/2006). These substances are frequently used in industrial chemicals, surface treatment applications and polymer manufacturing. In household chemicals, this surfactant was banned some time ago because it is believed to affect the hormone system. This group of substances is included in entry number 43 of Annex XIV to the REACH Regulation.

The application for authorization must contain three elements:

• A chemical safety report illustrating how hazards to humans and the environment are to be adequately controlled through the use of technical procedures. Supporting evidence must be provided in the form of workplace and emission measurements and model calculations.
• An analysis of alternatives describing what alternative substances exist, and why, from a technical and financial perspective, they are not currently suitable for use.
• A socio-economic analysis in the form of a monetized assessment of the overall benefit from use of the substance relative to the damage caused by it.

Once the application for authorization has been submitted, it will be examined in depth by various bodies of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA); as a rule, numerous detailed inquiries will be made, with data and documents requested later. If an application is successful, authorization will be granted by the EU Commission for a limited period of time.

The process of preparing an application for authorization is highly complex, so it is advisable to seek the advice of an experienced consultant.

DEKRA’s hazardous substance experts have more than 25 years of experience in advising on legal issues relating to chemicals and hazardous substances. DEKRA also has measuring facilities for hazardous substances and environmental protection and runs its own laboratories.

Further information is available at www.dekra.de/reach