Chemicals knowledge

EU textile association Euratex has also issued practical guidance to its members. "You need to know all chemical substances your company manufactures, imports and/or uses," it advises. It says companies should use a web-based Navigator tool and REACH documents available on the official guidance website. They should then methodically create an inventory of chemicals they make, use or buy: categorising them into substances, preparations and chemicals released from items; as well as by volume and source.

Looking ahead, ECHA is preparing to embark on a tougher REACH 'authorisation' procedure for chemicals posing particular environmental health risks: termed SVHC's (substances of very high concern), and has started collating draft lists of these chemicals. It released the names of 15 candidates for these controls in October. The ASBCI spokesman said: "Many people do not yet understand what SVHC's are and the lists of these are still evolving." Thus we end up with potential scenarios where a chemical such as, for example, a brominated flame retardant may be classed as SVHC under REACH but there may be no alternatives available which are any safer at the present time or which are as effective at reducing flammability on specific types of fabric."

Originally published in The Stitch Times: December 2008