RMOA on Asbestos Finalised
The existing ban on the use of asbestos under REACH does not apply to asbestos that is present unintentionally—for example, as a contaminant in products.
Recent findings indicate that asbestos continues to appear as a contaminant in specific applications, such as cosmetics and building materials. In 2024, Bureau REACH carried out a Regulatory Management Option Analysis (RMOA) to explore whether, and in what form, an amendment to the restriction might be appropriate to protect workers and the general public from accidental exposure to asbestos particles in certain products.
This RMOA will form part of the Annex XV restriction dossier currently under development. The analysis was finalised in 2024 and published on the ECHA website. As part of this process, a call for evidence was held, allowing members of the public, industry and NGOs to submit relevant information. This input will be taken into account in the further development of the restriction proposal in 2025.