Textile, clothing and textile finishing chemical companies using, manufacturing or importing products to the European Union (EU) have less than 12 weeks to register their use of chemicals with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
The European Commission has warned that missing a November 30 deadline risks a ban on their use of a particular chemical. This first date is for substances companies who produce or import in volumes of 1,000 tonnes-per-year or more; carcinogenic or mutagenic chemicals or those toxic to reproduction; and those very toxic to the aquatic environment (where 100 tonnes are produced or imported annually).
For other substances, registration deadlines fall in 2013 and 2018.
“Companies must first gather data about the environment and health properties of their chemical [and] share such data…” said a Commission communiqué.
