The European Union just published the official delegated regulation to classify titanium dioxide as a suspected carcinogen by inhalation. The decision will be applicable after a transitional period. The European coatings industry is criticizing this decision.
The discussion about the possible risk
of titanium dioxide on human health has kept the industry on its toes for about
three years now and originated in France. The decision to classify titanium as
category 2 suspected carcinogen by inhalation under EU Regulation on
classification, labelling and packaging (CLP) of substances and mixtures was
made by the European Commission last October and is now official.
Transition period for titanium dioxide until September
2021
The coatings as well as some other
industries protested and lobbied strongly against the classification from the
beginning and managed to tone done the classification, however, they were not
able to prevent it completely.
With the now published regulation it
will be legally binding to make labelling amendments to every mixture that
contains more than 1% TiO2. This will come into effect on 9
September 2021. Industry associations are already advising their members to
start relabelling at the earliest opportunity.
For paints and inks in liquid form it
will be mandatory to apply a warning sentence to warn against spraying and
respirable droplets. This seems relatively bearable, since there won’t be any
wording that seems too harsh. However, many experts in the industry fear, that
most paints and coatings could lose their eco-labelling.
The effect will be more severe for
powder coatings where some will become actually classified mixtures, carrying a
pictogram and the phrase "suspected of causing cancer by inhalation”.
Coatings association disappointed
The European Council of manufacturers of
paint, printing ink and artist colours (CEPE) already voiced its regret about
the decision and warned that this regulation sets a dangerous precedent for
other powdery substances.
The CEPE also states that "the reasons behind the EU Commission’s decision are not related to the chemistry of titanium dioxide, but by the simple presence of dust particles in excessive quantities in the lungs, causing chronic inflammation of the lung cells in rats.”
Suppliers of Titanium Dioxide in OKCHEM:
Hangzhou Ruijiang Chemical Co., Ltd
HANGZHOU PRATIQUE PERFORMANCE MATERIAL SCIENCE CO.,LTD
SHANGHAI MERRY YANG ENTERPRISE CO.,LTD
Guangxi Bluestar Dahua Chemical Co., Ltd.
Related news on EU Titanium Dioxide:
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What you should know about EU titanium dioxide regulations
EU seeks delegated act for titanium dioxide classification proposal