Corrigendum to Commission Recommendation 2004/394/EC of 29 April 2004 on the results of the risk evaluation and the risk reduction strategies for the substances: acetonitrile; acrylamide; acrylonitrile; acrylic acid; butadiene; hydrogen fluoride; hydrogen peroxide; methacrylic acid; methyl methacrylate; toluene; trichlorobenzene
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
of 29 April 2004
on the results of the risk evaluation and the risk reduction strategies for the substances: acetonitrile; acrylamide; acrylonitrile; acrylic acid; butadiene; hydrogen fluoride; hydrogen peroxide; methacrylic acid; methyl methacrylate; toluene; trichlorobenzene
(notified under document number C(2004) 1446)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2004/394/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 of 23 March 1993 on the evaluation and control of the risks of existing substances (1) and in particular Article 11(2) thereof,
Whereas:
| (1) | In the framework of Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 the following substances have been identified as priority substances for evaluation in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 1179/94 of 25 May 1994 concerning the first list of priority substances as foreseen under Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 (2), which also designates for those substances the following rapporteur Member States:
| — | acetonitrile, rapporteur Member State: Spain, |
| — | acrylamide, rapporteur Member State: the United Kingdom, |
| — | acrylonitrile, rapporteur Member State: Ireland, |
| — | acrylic acid, rapporteur Member State: Germany, |
| — | butadiene, rapporteur Member State: the United Kingdom, |
| — | hydrogen fluoride, rapporteur Member State: the Netherlands, |
| — | methacrylic acid, rapporteur Member State: Germany, |
| — | methyl methacrylate, rapporteur Member State: Germany. | |
| (2) | In the framework of Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 the following substances have been identified as a priority substances for evaluation in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 2268/95 of 28 September 1995 concerning the second list of priority substances as foreseen under Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 (3), which also designates for those substances the following rapporteur Member States:
| — | hydrogen peroxide, rapporteur Member State: Finland, |
| — | toluene, rapporteur Member State: Denmark, |
| — | trichlorobenzene, rapporteur Member State: Denmark. | |
| (3) | Those rapporteur Member States have completed all the risk evaluation activities with regard to man and the environment for those substances and have suggested a strategy for limiting the risks in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 of 28 June 1994 laying down the principles for the assessment of risks to man and the environment of existing substances in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 (4). |
| (4) | The Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment (CSTEE) has been consulted and has issued an opinion with respect to the risk evaluations carried out by the Member States rapporteurs. |
| (5) | The results of the risk evaluation are set out in the Annex. |
| (6) | On the basis of the measures recommended by the rapporteur, the Member States and the interested sector should where appropriate take into account the agreed risk evaluation and implement the relevant recommendations, to ensure risk to human health and the environment is controlled for each of the substances for which a risk assessment has been carried out. The Commission has also listed community legislative measures to which priority should be given. |
| (7) | The measures provided for in this recommendation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee set up pursuant to Article 15 of Regulation (EEC) No 793/93, |
HEREBY RECOMMENDS:
| 1. | All sectors importing, producing, transporting, storing, formulating into a preparation or other processing, using, disposing or recovering the following substances: should take into account the results of the risk evaluation set out in the section Risk assessment of parts 1 to 11 of the Annex for each of the substances mentioned. |
| 2. | The strategy for limiting risks set out in the section Strategy for limiting risks of Parts 1 to 11 of the Annex to this recommendation should be implemented. Where it is considered that no risks are expected, the information should be used to ensure the current risk reduction measures are maintained. This Recommendation is addressed to all sectors importing, producing, transporting, storing, formulating into a preparation or other processing, using, disposing or recovering the following substances and to the Member States. |
Done at Brussels, 29 April 2004.
For the Commission
Margot WALLSTRÖM
Member of the Commission
ANNEX
PART 1
CAS No 75-05-8 Einecs No 200-835-2
| Structural formula | : | CH3–C ≡ N |
| Einecs name | : | Acetonitrile |
| IUPAC name | : | Acetonitrile |
| Rapporteur | : | Spain |
| Classification (5) | : | F: R11 Xn: R20/21/22 Xi: R36 |
The risk assessment is based on current practices related to the life cycle of the substance produced in or imported into the European Community as described in the comprehensive Risk Assessment Report forwarded to the Commission by the Member State Rapporteur (6). The risk assessment has, based on the available information, determined that in the European Community the substance is mainly used as an intermediate for synthesis of industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals and pesticides, and in the manufacturing of photographic film. Other uses include as a solvent in various extraction processes and in research and analytical laboratories. It was not possible to obtain information on the use of the total volume of substance produced in or imported into the European Community, therefore, some uses may exist which are not covered by this risk assessment.
The risk assessment has identified other sources of exposure of the substance to man and the environment, in particular, the substance is produced during biomass burning and is present in automobile exhaust, which do not result from the life-cycle of the substance produced in or imported into the European Community. The assessment of the risks arising from these exposures are not part of this risk assessment. The comprehensive Risk Assessment Reports as forwarded to the Commission by the Member State Rapporteur does however provide information about these risks.
RISK ASSESSMENT
A. Human health
The conclusions of the evaluation of the risks to
WORKERS
is that there is a need for specific measures to limit the risks. This conclusion is reached because of:
| — | concerns for general systemic toxicity as a consequence of dermal exposure arising from use as a solvent and as an intermediate. |
The conclusions of the evaluation of the risks to
CONSUMERS and HUMANS EXPOSED VIA THE ENVIRONMENT
is that there is at present no need for further information and/or testing or for risk reduction measures beyond those which are being applied. This conclusion is reached because:
| — | the risk assessment shows that risks are not expected. Risk reduction measures already being applied are considered sufficient. |
The conclusions of the evaluation of the risks to
HUMAN HEALTH (physicochemical properties)
is that there is at present no need for further information and/or testing or for risk reduction measures beyond those which are being applied. This conclusion is reached because:
| — | the risk assessment shows that risks are not expected. Risk reduction measures already being applied are considered sufficient. |
B. Environment
The conclusions of the evaluation of the risks to the environment for
ATMOSPHERE
is that there is at present no need for further information and/or testing or for risk reduction measures beyond those which are being applied. This conclusion is reached because:
| — | the risk assessment shows that risks related to the environmental spheres mentioned above are not expected. Risk reduction measures already being applied are considered sufficient. |
The conclusions of the evaluation of the risks to the environment for
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM and TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEM
is that there is a need for specific measure to limit the...
