On 14 January 2016,the EU Official Journal has published a new Regulation (EU) 2016/26, amending REACH Annex XVII to ban textile articles containing more than 0.01% NPEO from being sold on the market of EU.
In Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, the following new entry 46a is added:
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46a.Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEO) (C2H4O)nC15H24O |
1. Shall not be placed on the market after 3 February 2021 in textile articles which can reasonably be expected to be washed in water during their normal lifecycle, in concentrations equal to or greater than 0,01 % by weight of that textile article or of each part of the textile article. 2. Paragraph 1 shall not apply to the placing on the market of second- hand textile articles or of new textile articles produced, without the use of NPE, exclusively from recycled textiles. 3. For the purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2, “textile article” means any unfinished, semi-finished or finished product which is composed of at least 80 % textile fibres by weight, or any other product that contains a part which is composed of at least 80 % textile fibres by weight, including products such as clothing, accessories, interior textiles, fibres, yarn, fabrics and knitted panels.’ |
NPEO are used in various industries as detergents, emulsifiers and surfactants. NPEO are known as toxic for aquatic species and will degrade to alkyl phenols, which are classified as carcinogenic. In the textile industry NPEO are still used as detergents in washing process or as coloring aids in the dying process.
The placing on the market and use of NPEO, as substances or in mixtures, for the purpose of textiles and leather processing are already restricted by entry 46 of Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006. However, textiles imported into the EU still contain residual amount of NPEO.
This amending regulation will restrict textiles containing more than 0.01% NPEO. All textile articles which are placed on the market need to comply with the new requirement after 3 February 2021.STQ remind you pay high attention to NPEO restriction and develop a detailed coping strategy in advance.