On 14 January 2016, European Commission published amendment Directives (EU) No 20416/26 on Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE), entry 46 of annex XVII of REACH, and this amendment shall apply from 3 February 2021.
Main change as below:
The following paragraphs are added
46a Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE) (C2H4O)nC15H24O
1.Shall not be placed on the market after 3 February 2021 in textile articles which can reasonably be expected to be washed in water during their normal lifecycle, in concentrations equal to or greater than 0,01 % by weight of that textile article or of each part of the textile article.
2.Paragraph 1 shall not apply to the placing on the market of second-hand textile articles or of new textile articles produced, without the use of NPE, exclusively from recycled textiles
3.For the purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2, “textile article” means any unfinished, semi-finished or finished product which is composed of at least 80 % textile fibres by weight, or any other product that contains a part which is composed of at least 80 % textile fibres by weight, including products such as clothing, accessories, interior textiles, fibres, yarn, fabrics and knitted panels.’
Common sources in world
NPEO often used as surfactants for textile production and processing, such as detergent, refining agent, industrial cleaning agents, dyes and calico emulsifier/dispersant, leather degreasing agents, finishing agents, disseminated, wetting agents, softener and other industrial chemicals.
High risk materials:
Leathers, textiles, prints, coatings
Substitutions
※ fatty alcohols (FEO)
※ sorbitan ester polyoxyethylene ether (Span series、Tween series)
※ Alkyl polyglycosides (APG)
※ Polyoxyethylene alkyl or alkyl ether sulfates, sulfonates
※ Dinonyphenol ethoxylate (DNP)
※ Polyoxyethylene alkyl ether carboxylic salt (AEC) Rosin Series Surfactant
Recommended test method:
※ ISO 18254:2015: Textiles - Method for the detection and determination of alkylphenolethoxylates (APEO)
Testing Requirement quality: 2 pieces of finished product or 2g component/raw material
※ ISO 18218-1:2015 Leather. Determination of ethoxylated alkylphenols. Direct method
Testing Requirement quality: 2 pieces of finished product or 2g component/raw material
※ BS EN ISO 18218-2:2015 Leather. Determination of ethoxylated alkylphenols. Indirect method
Testing Requirement quality: 2 pieces of finished product or 5g component/raw material