21 November 2013 was not only the latest application date for diarsenic trioxide (EC 215-481-4, CAS 1327-53-3), but also when authorisation applications were filed for the first time under the socio-economic analysis (SEA) route. Under the REACH authorisation framework, companies seeking to keep a “non-threshold” substance (those for which an acceptable exposure threshold has not been set) on the market for a particular use, or uses, must apply for authorisation under the SEA route. This means that, in addition to proving that there are no feasible alternatives available, the applicant needs to demonstrate that the socio-economic benefits of continued use of the substance outweigh the health and environmental risks. REACHLaw prepared and submitted two applications for its clients for the use of diarsenic trioxide in the production of zinc, and this article summarises the main lessons learned during the process.
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