The Commission will not restrict cadmium in artists’ paint
(From ec.europa.eu)
In 2013, Sweden proposed to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to prohibit placing cadmium and its compounds for use in artists' paint on the EU market, and to prohibit the use of such paints and pigments.
After careful evaluation by ECHA's Committee for Risk Assessment and Committee for Socioeconomic Analysis, the European Commission concludes that the presence of cadmium in artists' paints does not present an unacceptable risk to human health.
Accordingly, the restriction procedure initiated by Sweden is terminated.
Read the entire Communication here:
Extract from the Communication:
"Conclusions
The Commission concludes that, from indirect exposure via the environment through the release of cadmium to waste water and the application of sewage sludge on agricultural soil, the presence of cadmium in artists' paints does not present an unacceptable risk to human health giving rise to a need to restrict the placing on the market of cadmium or its compounds for use in artists' paints, or to restrict the use of artists' paints containing cadmium or its compounds.
The Commission considers that the conditions laid down in Article 68 of REACH, and referred to in Article 73(1), are not fulfilled and will therefore not prepare a draft amendment to Annex XVII requiring a decision under Article 73(2) of REACH. Accordingly, the restriction procedure initiated by Sweden is terminated.
Since Title VIII of REACH harmonises the conditions for the manufacture, use and placing on the market of chemical substances, measures equivalent to those that have been examined in the course of a restriction procedure under that Title and did not ultimately result in the adoption of a new restriction or the amendment of an existing restriction under Article 73(2) of REACH may not be maintained or introduced by Member States, unless there is new evidence that would necessitate a renewed evaluation.”