The use of chemicals can pose risks to both humans and the environment. Therefore, there are bans and restrictions on which chemicals can be used and how they should be handled. To easily keep track of which chemicals are affected, we have compiled various restriction and prohibition lists in our system to assist you in your chemical management. In this article, we will help you understand what restriction lists actually are and how you can use them in your work.
What is a restriction list?
Restriction lists are a collective term for lists of substances that are subject to certain requirements, limitations, or bans. These typically involve substances that are hazardous to health or the environment.
By keeping track of these lists, you can easily determine if special measures are needed in your chemical management. In iChemistry, we gather our restriction lists under an overview, allowing you to monitor your chemicals and substances within your operations effortlessly. You can also create custom, client-specific restriction lists if needed.
We match substances in the various restriction lists against substances in your products so you can quickly see if there are any restrictions or requirements for a substance in the product. From the moment you add a new product to your inventory, you can see if it matches a list, allowing you to smoothly choose between different products.
Who regulates the restriction lists?
Chemical legislation is primarily regulated at the EU level. ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) is responsible for the EU legislation known as REACH, from which many restriction lists originate. Some lists come from EU directives that member states have then adopted into their own laws. In Sweden, the Swedish Work Environment Authority regulates the use of chemicals. At Intersolia, we have also created our own lists based on the regulations of the Swedish Work Environment Authority to help our customers stay informed about specific requirements.
As a manufacturer, importer, user, or distributor of chemical products, you are responsible for ensuring that your products and their usage comply with any applicable restrictions.
What is the purpose of restriction lists?
The purpose of restriction and prohibition lists is to limit the use of hazardous substances as mandated by EU authorities and other organizations. We have compiled these lists in our system to make it easier for you to keep track of everything in one place.
The restriction lists help you monitor the following aspects of your operations:
- Compliance with legal requirements related to your chemical products, including:
- Training requirements
- Medical examination requirements
- Worker registry/substitution investigations
- Permit requirements
- Prohibited substances
- Identifying which products need to be removed or replaced in your operations or reduced in use.
- Reviewing the handling and risk assessment of particularly hazardous products.
Automatic Matching with Restriction and Prohibition Lists
In our chemical management system, iChemistry, your products are automatically flagged if their use involves specific requirements, such as training requirements and permit applications.
When are the lists updated with new substances?
Authorities at the EU level, such as ECHA, at the national level, such as KEMI, and organizations like Chemsec, regularly conduct investigations and assessments on substances to determine if there are additional substances that need to be restricted. Therefore, updates from the publishers with new substances occur regularly.
The updating of lists in iChemistry coincides with the publishers’ updates at least four times a year. Every night, a matching process is conducted against all your product safety data sheets so that you can always feel confident in the system.
The number of products matched on these lists varies over time, and it’s common for products and substances to appear on multiple lists since the criteria often overlap.
Common Restriction Lists
Lists matched against CAS/EC numbers
CAS numbers (Chemical Abstracts Service numbers) are registration numbers for chemicals, serving as international identification numbers for chemical substances. EC numbers are used for chemical substances on the market within the EU.
In the following lists, substances are matched solely based on their CAS/EC numbers, without considering quantity. This means that regardless of the proportion of a substance in a product, if it matches the criteria, it will be flagged in these lists.
The Candidate List is a list of over 200 particularly hazardous substances. It is part of REACH, the European chemical legislation.
Manufacturers, importers, or distributors of chemical products or goods within the EU and EEA must be aware of whether their products contain any substances on the Candidate List, as it may entail specific requirements.
The substances on the Candidate List have properties that can cause serious and permanent effects on human health and the environment.
Examples of these properties include:
- Carcinogenic
- Damaging to genetic material
- Disruptive to reproduction
- Persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT substances)
- Very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB substances)
- Other particularly hazardous properties deemed as severe as those listed above
To use or release certain particularly hazardous substances on the market, you need authorization under the REACH regulation. This applies regardless of the quantity in which you handle these substances. In some cases, you can take advantage of your supplier’s authorization. You do not need to apply for authorization if any actor higher up in the supply chain has obtained authorization, and your use of the substance meets the conditions of the supplier’s authorization. In this case, you must notify ECHA of this within 3 months from the first delivery.
Chemical substances that, according to REACH, have some restrictions on their release onto the market.
Substances that are restricted pose a risk to health or the environment in connection with certain uses of the substance. However, it may be possible to handle or use the substance in other ways, which means that a restricted substance does not necessarily have to be completely prohibited. Therefore, it is permitted to use the substance in ways that are not covered by the restriction.
Learn more about the restriction list in our knowledge base.
The SIN List is a compilation of hazardous chemicals used in various articles, products, and manufacturing processes around the world. The abbreviation SIN stands for Substitute It Now, indicating that these chemicals should be phased out as soon as possible because they pose a threat to human health and the environment.
Developed by the non-profit organization ChemSec in close collaboration with scientists, technical experts, and an advisory committee of leading environmental, health, and consumer organizations, the list is based on credible, readily available information from existing databases and scientific studies.
The list contains priority substances with a negative impact on the aquatic environment. The directive establishes rules to prevent deterioration of the EU’s bodies of water. The aim is to ensure that we manage our water resources so that future generations have access to water of good quality in sufficient quantity.
Learn more about the restriction list in our knowledge base.
Did you know that we have several optional restriction lists you can choose from in your iChemistry based on your needs? Contact your account manager for more information or fill out the form on our contact page.
Lists matched against H-phrases
Hazard statements (H-phrases) are part of a globally harmonized system for the classification and labeling of chemicals (GHS). They are intended to provide a set of standardized phrases about the hazards of chemical substances and mixtures that can be translated into different languages.
In the following lists the substances are matched based on their H-phrases.
Allergens - Intersolia
Allergens – Intersolia is our proprietary restriction list that matches chemical products classified as allergenic, such as H317, H334. With this list, you can avoid introducing allergenic products into your operations.
CMR - Intersolia
This list is also one of our proprietary restriction lists. CMR-Intersolia contains substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reproductive toxicants (CMRs). H-phrases associated with this classification include, for example, H340, H350 or H360. For products on the list, requirements may include investigations, documentation, and in some cases, registers of exposed employees.
New restriction list in iChemistry - PFAS
With the help of our new restriction list, PFAS, you can easily keep track of which of your products contain PFAS, allowing you to start phasing out these products and substituting where possible.
How can I use restriction lists in my substitution and sustainability efforts?
Restriction lists play a crucial role in the work of substitution and phasing out chemicals. These lists serve as a guide, providing you with information about specific limitations and prohibitions so that you can make safer choices and select alternative substances that are less hazardous. By actively monitoring the lists in your chemical management system, you can stay ahead of the game when it comes to new restrictions and substitution of hazardous substances.
In iChemistry, you receive the most important lists for free when you have the system, and you can also choose additional lists that are essential for your specific operations. You’ll find your selected lists directly in the overview when you log in, making it easy to track how your products match the lists and when it might be time to switch to a safer product.
You can also use the lists in the inventory module, where you’ll see immediately if you’re considering bringing in a new product that contains a substance listed on any of the restriction lists, allowing you to easily choose a different product instead.
By adhering to the guidelines of restriction lists, you can work towards reducing your negative impact and promote a more sustainable and safe handling of chemicals throughout your entire operation. Both your employees and the environment will benefit from it!
Learn more about substitution:
