Pbt Criteria Splits Echa And Eu

摘要

The European Commission was challenged at a Competent Authorities meeting last month by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) after clashes over persistent bioaccumulative and toxic chemical (PBT) criteria. It is understood that everyone present at the meeting, attended by stakeholders, member states, the Commission and ECHA, restated their position and that the majority who took the floor, most importantly ECHA, shared the same view. In contrast, EE&PL understands that the Commission did not say much on the matter, only that the issue will be readdressed and a new proposal will be put forward with a view to vote on the matter in February. ECHA argues that the criteria defining PBT substances in the current Annex XIII, as laid down by the Commission, does not allow sufficient flexibility in determining whether a substance has the potential to persist, bioaccumulate and eventually cause toxic effects in the environment.