Recently the European Commission drafted an amendment to REACH Annex XVII to ban methanol in windscreen washing or defrosting fluids and denatured alcohol. Methanol in a concentration equal to or greater than 0,6 % by weight in these liquids shall not be placed on the market after date of entry into force of this regulation + 12 months.
“69. Methanol
CAS No
67-56-1
EC No
200-659-6
Shall not be placed
on the market to the general public after date of entry into force of this
Regulation + 12 months in the following:
(a)
windscreen washing or defrosting fluids,
(b) denatured
alcohol,
in a
concentration equal to or greater than 0,6 % by weight.”
Exposure to methanol in windscreen washing fluid and denatured alcohol poses a risk to human health so the EC proposed to prohibit their placing on the market.
The draft regulation is proposed to be adopted on first half of 2017 with 12 months transitional period.