REACH - Registration
SiCMa has prepared a REACH registration dossier for silicon carbide (crude and grains, see also substance ID) which has been successfully submitted to ECHA. The joint submission procedures for silicon carbide are established and ongoing. Companies that have registration obligations and are interested in purchasing a letter of access are encouraged to contact the SiCMa for details and conditions.
The implementation of REACH is supervised by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in Helsinki, Finland. Further information and latest updates on the REACH Regulation can be found on the ECHA website web site.
Clarification concerning ECHA´s report: Assessment of Regulatory Needs - Group Name: Simple inorganic Silicon (Si) compounds
As Silicon Carbide is mentioned in the ECHA report “Assessment of Regulatory Needs - Group Name: Simple inorganic Silicon (Si) compounds”, published 6 January 2023 SiCMa has carefully assessed this document.
From our point of view the report contains some obviously wrong statements and necessary distinctions are missing. We have communicated these shortcomings to ECHA and expect a correction in the coming weeks.
The main mistake concerns the missing distinction between SiC crude and grain on one side and SiC fibres on the other side.
The REACH registration for SiC concerns SiC crude and grain which is placed on the markets worldwide in high volumes. There is no scientific investigation that has identified any risk with SiC crude and grains. There is no classification for SiC crude and grains. There is no need for any regulatory action concerning SiC crude and grain.
Silicon Carbide fibres are excluded from the registration dossier, and they are - to our knowledge - not placed on the market. SiC fibres are classified as carc 1B concerning the risk for causing cancer. (see Annex VI of the REACH regulation). As SiC fibres do not occur on the market there is as well no need for regulatory action.
In the report also aquatic toxicity is addressed. Please be informed that for SiC aquatic toxicity tests have been done. Following these tests SiC is officially classified as non-hazardous to water in Germany.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us (Dr. Reinhard Joas, Anne Marie Moe) if you have questions or comments.
REACH, the EC Regulation No 1907/2006 on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals, entered into force in the entire European Economic Area on 1 June 2007. The regulation applies to all silicon carbide manufacturers who have production plants inside Europe, to all European importers of silicon carbide and to Only Representatives of silicon carbide producers outside the European Economic Area.