The European Commission published Regulation (EU) No 2016/217 in it’s Official Journal on the 17th of February 2016, amending REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 regarding Annex XVII(column 2 of entries 23 for Cadmium and its compounds. The amended regulation will enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Cadmium Requirements in EU

Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 is amended as per the following:

Other control requirements of cadmium : EU regulation	Scope	Cd limit
REACH   (SVHC)	Article	0.1%/per Article   (Threshold)
RoHS directive 2011/65/EU	homogeneous material in EEE	0.01%
Packaging Directive 2005/20/EC	packing material	(Sum of Pb,Cd,Hg,Cr6+)0.01%
Batteries Directive 2006/66/EC and 2013/56/EU	Batteries	0.002%(WT)

Other control requirements of cadmium :

EU regulation	Scope	Cd limit
REACH   (SVHC)	Article	0.1%/per Article   (Threshold)
RoHS directive 2011/65/EU	homogeneous material in EEE	0.01%
Packaging Directive 2005/20/EC	packing material	(Sum of Pb,Cd,Hg,Cr6+)0.01%
Batteries Directive 2006/66/EC and 2013/56/EU	Batteries	0.002%(WT)

Damage caused by Cadmium

Cadmium can stimulate the respiratory tract, long term exposure can cause a olfactory loss, gingival yellowing or yellow circles ,Cadmium compounds are not easily absorbed by the intestine, it can through be absorpted by body by breathing it in. The body will store it in the liver or kidney causing damage, kidney damage is the most obvious symptom. It can also lead to osteoporosis and softening of the bones.

CTI Suggestion

The amendment of the REACH regulations to further restrict paint containing Cadmium when it comes into force will have a great influence on enterprises supplying paint to the EU . Enterprises need to fully understand and implement the content of the amendment about paint containing Cadmium in appendix XVII ,  and carry out a supply chain survey. So as to ready when the directive comes into force.