REACH Authorisation: Favourable opinions and long review period recommended for SPOLANA S.R.O.

ECHA’s Committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Socio-economic Analysis (SEAC) have recently published their final ‘combined’ opinion on the use of trichloroethylene (TCE) as an extraction solvent in the manufacture of caprolactam (a polymer precursor).

SPOLANA S.R.O. currently holds an Authorisation for the use of TCE as an extraction solvent of caprolactam until 21 April 2020.  However, in August 2018, SPOLANA S.R.O. requested an extension to the initial review period by a further 12 years to continue research towards the identification of a feasible alternative.

RPA and their authorisation associates, FoBiG, were responsible for the development of the Authorisation Review Report and collaborated with SPOLANA S.R.O. throughout all stages of the process.

Within the opinion documents, RAC highlight that the “exposure assessment of workers is reliable and representative” and according to SEAC the socio-economic analysis “thoroughly captures the changes in impacts”.  Both RAC and SEAC concluded that 12 years was an appropriate review period based on the information submitted by the applicant and the committees’ pre-established criteria, and no additional conditions have been proposed.

Discussing the application for Authorisation, Panos Zarogiannis, Director at RPA, was “very pleased at the positive comments made by the ECHA committees regarding the review report, in particular the acknowledgement of the significant efforts that have been made to minimise exposure to workers”, adding that “the proposed review period was favourable for SPOLANA S.R.O. to continue their extensive and multi-faceted R&D on alternatives for TCE”.

The combined opinion will now be sent to the European Commission who will take the final decision on the application.

This positive opinion is one of several that RPA has helped previous applicants for Authorisation to attain.  If you would like to find out more about RPA’s REACH compliance services please click here.

The full list of RAC and SEAC adopted opinions on applications for Authorisation is available here.