The risk Assessment Committee (RAC) and the socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) of the      reached interim conclusions on the proposed PFAS restrictions for the oil and mining industry. RAC also adopted its opinion on the unified classification and labeling of talc powder, suggesting carcinogenicity as the strictest classification.

About PFAS restrictions

At      's RAC and SEAC meetings in September, RAC and SEAC discussed the following industries in the EU-wide proposal to limit perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS):

     oil and mining industries; textiles, interior decoration, leather, clothing and carpets; food contact materials and packaging.

The      committee's assessment of the oil and mining industry has provisionally concluded. Discussions on the other two areas-textiles, interior decoration, leather, clothing and carpets, and food contact materials and packaging-will continue at the next meeting.

     "RAC agreed to revise the calculation of PFAS emissions from different industries, focusing on waste stages, such as waste disposal and incineration. The revised method emphasizes the need to distinguish between PFAS particle emissions (solids) and particles leached from materials. This distinction is important because the issues related to fluoropolymer particles are different from those related to non-polymer PFAS."

The      committee also announced the industries they will evaluate at their upcoming meeting. In November, they will discuss construction products for the first time. After November, the next industries to discuss are:

Application of     fluorinated gas; transportation; energy.

About uniform classification and labelling

     RAC has adopted 13 suggestions on the uniform classification and labelling of hazardous substances. One of them is about talc, and the Committee recommends that the following hazard categories be added:

     carcinogens category 1B, H350 (may cause cancer)

     STOT RE 1 Magi H372 (long-term or repeated inhalation of substances that cause damage to the lungs).

     RAC evaluated a large database of information about talcum powder and concluded that there was sufficient evidence that exposure to talc could lead to cancer. This conclusion is based on limited data from animal studies (lung tumors in inhaled exposed female rats) and human studies (ovarian tumors in women after genital / perineal use).

     RAC also considered whether the carcinogenicity classification should apply only to a particular exposure pathway (or multiple pathways). According to the European Union Classification, labelling and Packaging (CLP) regulations, carcinogenicity classification applies by default to all exposure pathways unless it is finally proved that other exposure pathways do not cause the same harm. In this case, there is not enough information to identify or rule out the possibility that other exposure pathways (including oral pathways) may lead to observed hazards. Therefore, the hazard classification opinion does not specify any exposure pathway.

Other outcomes of the RAC and SEAC meetings in September

     RAC and SEAC adopted 24 comments on chromate authorization applications and review reports.

     reached agreement on 13 draft opinions on authorization application and authorization review report, and SEAC reached agreement on 10 draft opinions.

     RAC adopted two suggestions on occupational exposure limits (OEL). Source: Ehler standard