On January 10, 2024, the EU Commission approves the exemption for cadmium and lead in plastic profiles in electrical and electronic windows and doors containing recovered rigid polyvinyl chloride (rigid PVC) on the ground that cadmium and lead can be used for the purpose of polymer stabilization of the PVC profiles.
Those provisions on the exemption of cadmium and lead in plastic profiles containing mixtures produced from PVC are effective on 1 January 2024, and expires on 28 May 2028.
Environmental and safety interests
While lead- and cadmium-free virgin PVC is available on the market, the use of recovered PVC requires lower amounts of energy and natural resources (such as water, petroleum and natural salt) than the amounts that would be otherwise needed for the use of virgin PVC. Therefore, the total negative environmental, health and consumer safety impacts caused by substitution would likely outweigh the total environmental, health and consumer safety benefits thereof.
In Annex III to Directive 2011/65/EU, Cadmium and lead in plastic profiles containing mixtures produced from polyvinyl chloride waste (hereinafter referred to as "recovered rigid PVC"), used for electrical and electronic windows and doors, where the concentration in the recovered rigid PVC material does not exceed 0.1% cadmium by weight and 1.5% lead by weight.
Product mark
Suppliers of PVC articles containing recovered rigid PVC with a concentration of lead equal to or greater than 0.1% by weight of the PVC material shall ensure, before placing those articles on the market, that they are visibly, legibly and indelibly marked with the statement: "Contains ≥ 0.1 % lead". Where the marking cannot be provided on the article due to the nature of the article, it shall be on the packaging of the article.
Earlier in 2023, the EU Commission has adopted measures on the prohibition of use and sale of products containing PVC and lead. These measures are formulated to protect people from lead poison and reduce lead emissions.
This decision is also expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Articles containing recycled rigid PVC can still be sold and used within specific time, but for safety consideration, these articles need to be completely covered by a lead-free layer to prevent accidental exposure of people and the environment to lead.
The European Commission will continue to collaborate with ECHA to explore further measures to limit the lead exposure.
