Environment Agencies to Launch REACH Campaign at Brityrex

The Environment Agency (EA), Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) have chosen October’s Brityrex exhibition as the platform for a new campaign to raise awareness of legislation covering the chemical make-up of tyres and retread rubber. The campaign follows the introduction of European REACH legislation which states that extender oils shall not be placed on the market, or used for the production of tyres or parts of tyres if they contain more than the threshold limits of PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon). The restrictions also apply to the marketing of tyres and treads for retreading.

Both European manufacturers and importers need to comply with the new ruling; distributors found to be selling tyres containing excessive levels of PAH could be faced with enforcement proceedings. One of the problems for retailers and wholesalers will be that there is no visual test to determine the presence of PAH, which means they will need to be absolutely confident that their tyre suppliers are aware of and meeting the tighter standard.

Claire Cox from the EA’s Chemical Compliance Team explained: “Brityrex will provide the ideal opportunity for us to talk to the tyre trade about this development. We need to inform, educate and advise manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers about the new legislation so they can take steps to comply with it. We recognise that this will be a potentially complex situation, especially given the global nature of tyre manufacturing and trading that can see tyres made in dozens of different countries arrive for sale in the UK market. Although this is European legislation, manufacturers from other countries around the world will need to comply with it in order to sell their products legally in the European market.”

Paul Farrant, managing director of Brityrex organiser ECI International commented: “This is clearly very important new legislation for the trade to be aware of and it is a mark of Brityrex’s status that the UK’s environmental regulators have chosen the show to highlight this campaign. With its unique mix of UK and international visitors, delegates and exhibitors we are confident of delivering the right audience to help them get their message across.” 

The EA Chemical Compliance Team monitors compliance with marketing and use restrictions where there is a threat to the environment, or to human health through exposure to the environment. Where non-compliances are found, appropriate enforcement action may be taken.