According to latest news from the European Plastic Industry the European Commission is intending to issue a total ban on use of Cadmium in plastic and plastic made products. According to reports from the sources the move was initiated by the company viewing the potential health hazards of the chemical to common people.
There is a great concern over the use of this harmful chemical in plastic that is deteriorating not only the air but also the water and land of the region that is something of utmost concern. In its issued report the European Commission has said that the agency has decide extend its restriction on cadmium in plastics from the current 16 materials listed in Annex XVII of REACH to all plastic materials. However, on the other hand the European Chemical Agency has expressed its strong view over the decision and has said that there should be enough reasons for the agency to invoke the complete ban on cadmium and that ECHA will examine the case for an outright ban and has issued a call for evidence to the plastics industry.
It is important underline here that Cadmium has been used by companies and industries as stabilizers in PVC materials. In 2011, the Commission banned the use of cadmium in PVC, although European PVC producers had been phasing out their use before then. According to reports from various sources the commission has already been phasing out the use of leads in the chemical industry.
The European Commission has also sought opinions from common people, industry experts, entrepreneurs and major players on the issue and has said it will act accordingly. Those people who want to voice their opinion with the Commission can do so by visiting the official website of the commission and posting their opinion. The ECHA invited interested parties to submit comments on the cadmium ban by 11 February 2013 via an online questionnaire available on the ECHA website.
While briefing about the move to news personnel, industry experts and entrepreneurs the representative of the commission said It said: “In particular, the agency seeks to identify any additional plastic materials – made in the EU or imported, for example, in consumer articles, and not covered by the current restriction – which might contain cadmium or cadmium compounds.” The news has created turmoil in the industry as it has the potential to affect almost every player that is associated with the manufacturing and production of plastic, PVC and other plastic made stuffs.
