EN E-000415/2021
Answer given by Mr Breton on behalf of the European Commission
(12.4.2021)
1. In 2017, the Commission requested the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to examine substances of concern to human health and the environment, other than PAHs1 , in granulates used as infill in synthetic turf pitches as well as children playgrounds. In 2018, the Netherlands submitted a restriction to ECHA on PAHs in granules and mulches for those uses2 . On 21 December 2020, the REACH committee gave a positive opinion on the restriction proposal by the Commission, which is currently under scrutiny of the European Parliament and the Council. In addition, at the request of the Commission3 , ECHA prepared a restriction proposal4 on intentionally added microplastics that includes the infills used on synthetic turf pitches and playgrounds.
2. Both REACH5 and the Regulation on POPs6 , and product specific legislation e.g. the Toy Safety Directive7 , RoHS8 or the ELV9 Directive prohibit or set limits on certain hazardous substances in products, including those that contain recycled materials. The Commission’s ambition to achieve clean material cycles and a well-functioning internal market for high quality secondary raw materials is laid out in the new Circular Economy Action Plan10 and in the Chemical Strategy for Sustainability11 and will be addressed in the Sustainable Products Initiative.
3. In line with the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, the Commission will assess how to best introduce in REACH (a) mixture assessment factor(s) for the chemical safety assessment of substances. The Commission will introduce or reinforce provisions to take account of the combination effects in other relevant legislation, e.g. legislation on water, food additives, toys, food contact materials, detergents and cosmetics.
1 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
2 Link
3 Link
4 Link
5 Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals
6 Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
7 Directive 2009/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2019 on the safety of toys.
8 Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2011 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
9 Directive 2000/53/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 September 2000 on end-of-life vehicles.
10 COM(2020) 98 final
11 COM(2020) 667 final
See question(s) : E-000415/2021