HSA advises on proposed restriction of CMRs in textiles and clothing articles- will this affect your business?

Do you manufacture, import or sell textile and clothing articles?

 

If so the Chemical Helpdesk of the Health and Safety Authority would like to bring the following information to your attention.  There is currently a proposal being considered by the European Commission to restrict named carcinogens, mutagens and substances toxic to reproduction from textiles and clothing articles on the European market.

 If you are unsure, please ask your suppliers as this may have implications for your business in the future.

 Substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction (CMRs) are of specific concern due to the long term and serious effects that they may exert on human health.  CMRs Category 1A and 1B are substances known or presumed to have carcinogenic potential for humans; known or presumed to induce hereditary mutations in the germ cells of humans; and substances known or presumed to be toxic for human reproduction.  The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has compiled a list of 291 such substances which could be present in textile or clothing articles.  The concern is such substances would be in prolonged contact with human skin and could impact human health.

 Read more about this ban and how it could affect your business in the attached background document. CMRs in textiles restriction background document.docx (size 47.7 KB)

 Submissions can be made to the European Commission before January 22nd 2016.  Details are provided in the background document.