The Helsinki-based European
Chemical Agency
(ECHA) triggered
in mid-January
moves which
could place
restrictions on or
even the phasing
out of the use
of besphenol A
(BPA).
EU Coatings Sector Faces BPA Restrictions
by Sean Milmo
European Correspondent
milmocw@rodmanmedia.com
The coatings sector in Europe has entered 2017 with the prospect of a period of controversy over safety regulations for
some of its key raw materials.
The Helsinki-based European Chemical
Agency (ECHA) triggered in mid-January
moves which could place restrictions on or
even the phasing out of the use of bisphenol
A (BPA).
The agency, which is responsible for the
implementation of the European Union’s main
industrial chemicals legislation, is already assessing a proposal that titanium dioxide be
categorized as a dangerous chemical. This is
because TiO2 dust has been classed as being
possibly carcinogenic.
Then there is a threat that two essential
coatings biocides – formaldehyde releasers and
isothiazolinone – may fail a safety review under the EU’s new Biocides Products Regulation
(BPR). This requires far more rigorous and
costly safety data to be submitted than under
the previous EU’s biocides legislation.
Although BPA in the coatings sector is effectively only an intermediate used mainly to
harden epoxy resins, the chemical is nonetheless a crucial ingredient to producers of can
and some other protective coatings.
“It is an important building block in coatings formulations which acts as a cross-linker
and provides highly effective chemicals resistance,” explained Janice Robinson, director of
product regulations at the European Council
of Paint, Printing Ink and Artists’ Colours
Industry (CEPE).
BPA is one of four new additions to the
