Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

[X1 3. ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD ASSESSMENT U.K.

3.0. Introduction U.K.

3.0.1. The objective of the environmental hazard assessment shall be to determine the classification and labelling of a substance in accordance with Directive 67/548/EEC and to identify the concentration of the substance below which adverse effects in the environmental sphere of concern are not expected to occur. This concentration is known as the Predicted No-Effect Concentration (PNEC). U.K.

3.0.2. The environmental hazard assessment shall consider the potential effects on the environment, comprising the (1) aquatic (including sediment), (2) terrestrial and (3) atmospheric compartments, including the potential effects that may occur (4) via food-chain accumulation. In addition, the potential effects on the (5) microbiological activity of sewage treatment systems shall be considered. The assessment of the effects on each of these five environmental spheres shall be presented under the relevant heading of the Chemical Safety Report (Section 7) and where required and in accordance with Article 31, summarised in the Safety Data Sheet under headings 2 and 12. U.K.

3.0.3. For any environmental sphere, for which no effect information is available, the relevant section of the chemical safety report shall contain the sentence: ‘ This information is not available ’ . The justification, including reference to any literature research carried out, shall be included in the technical dossier. For any environmental sphere for which information is available, but the manufacturer or importer believes that it is not necessary to conduct the hazard assessment, the manufacturer or importer shall present a justification, with reference to pertinent information, under the relevant heading of the Chemical Safety Report (Section 7) and where required and in accordance with Article 31, summarised in the Safety Data Sheet under heading 12. U.K.

3.0.4. The hazard assessment shall comprise the following three steps, which shall be clearly identified as such in the Chemical Safety Report: U.K.

Step 1

:

Evaluation of information.

Step 2

:

Classification and Labelling.

Step 3

:

Derivation of the PNEC.

3.1. Step 1: Evaluation of information U.K.

3.1.1. The evaluation of all available information shall comprise: U.K.

• the hazard identification based on all available information,

• the establishment of the quantitative dose (concentration)-response (effect) relationship.

3.1.2. When it is not possible to establish the quantitative dose (concentration)-response (effect) relationship, then this should be justified and a semi-quantitative or qualitative analysis shall be included. U.K.

3.1.3. All information used to assess the effects on a specific environmental sphere shall be briefly presented, if possible in the form of a table or tables. The relevant test results (e.g. LC50 or NOEC) and test conditions (e.g. test duration, route of administration) and other relevant information shall be presented, in internationally recognised units of measurement for that effect. U.K.

3.1.4. All information used to assess the environmental fate of the substance shall be briefly presented, if possible in the form of a table or tables. The relevant test results and test conditions and other relevant information shall be presented, in internationally recognised units of measurement for that effect. U.K.

3.1.5. If one study is available then a robust study summary should be prepared for that study. Where there is more than one study addressing the same effect, then the study or studies giving rise to the highest concern shall be used to draw a conclusion and a robust study summary shall be prepared for that study or studies and included as part of the technical dossier. Robust summaries will be required of all key data used in the hazard assessment. If the study or studies giving rise to the highest concern are not used, then this shall be fully justified and included as part of the technical dossier, not only for the study being used but also for all studies reaching a higher concern than the study being used. For substances where all available studies indicate no hazards an overall assessment of the validity of all studies should be performed. U.K.

3.2. Step 2: Classification and Labelling U.K.

3.2.1. The appropriate classification and labelling developed in accordance with the criteria in Directive 67/548/EEC shall be presented and justified. Where applicable Specific Concentration limits, resulting from the application of Article 4(4) of Directive 67/548/EEC and Articles 4 to 7 of Directive 1999/45/EC, shall be presented and, if they are not included in Annex I to Directive 67/548/EEC, justified. U.K.

3.2.2. If the information are inadequate to decide whether a substance should be classified for a particular end-point, the registrant shall indicate and justify the action or decision he has taken as a result. U.K.

3.3. Step 3: Identification of the PNEC U.K.

3.3.1. Based on the available information, the PNEC for each environmental sphere shall be established. The PNEC may be calculated by applying an appropriate assessment factor to the effect values (e.g. LC50 or NOEC). An assessment factor expresses the difference between effects values derived for a limited number of species from laboratory tests and the PNEC for the environmental sphere (1) . U.K.

3.3.2. If it is not possible to derive the PNEC, then this shall be clearly stated and fully justified.] U.K.

Editorial Information

X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC (Official Journal of the European Union L 396 of 30 December 2006).

(1)

[X1 In general, the more extensive the data and the longer the duration of the tests, the smaller is the degree of uncertainty and the size of the assessment factor. An assessment factor of 1 000 is typically applied to the lowest of three short term L(E)C50 values derived from species representing different trophic levels and a factor of 10 to the lowest of three long-term NOEC values derived from species representing different trophic levels.]

Editorial Information

X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC (Official Journal of the European Union L 396 of 30 December 2006).