CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND RETAIL E-SSENTIALS

EU: New REACH Annex XVII restriction on PAHs in granules and mulches was published

JULY 2021 - HARDLINES

On 21 July 2021, the European Union’s restriction on polycyclic-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in granules or mulches used as infill material in synthetic turf pitches or loose form on playgrounds or in sports applications was published in the Official Journal as Regulation (EU) No 2021/1199¹, amended the Annex XVII entry 50 to REACH Regulation. This new requirement will apply from 10 August 2022.

The basis of this new restriction concerns human health resulting from the exposure to PAHs in infill granules used in synthetic turf pitches. The use of End-of-Life Tyres (ELT)-derived granules in synthetic turf pitches attracted much public attention in a number of EU countries. This is because carcinogenic chemicals (e.g. PAHs) present in such materials and there are human health risks associated with using these pitches. Taking into account the Annex XV dossier and the opinions of the European Chemicals Agency’s committees, the European Commission considers that there is an unacceptable risk to human health from the placing on the market or use of granules or mulches containing PAHs as infill material in synthetic turf pitches or loose form on playgrounds or in sports applications, and the risk needs to be addressed on a Union-wide basis. REACH Annex XVII should be amended accordingly.

Table A shows the details of this new restriction.

Table A.  Restriction on PAHs in granules and mulches

[1]  Legal text – Regulation (EU) No. 2021/1199