G/TBT/N/EU/736  
8 September 2020  
(20-6061) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  EUROPEAN UNION   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:  European Commission  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
European Comm ission  
EU-TBT Enquiry Point  
Fax: +(32) 2 299 80 43  
E-mail: grow-eu-tbt@ec.europa.eu  
Website: http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools -databases/tbt/e n/  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [X], 5.7.1 [   ], other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Polycyclic -
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in granules or mulches used as infill materials in synthetic 
turf pitches or in loose form on playgrounds or in sport applications. The term 'PAHs' is 
used as an abbreviation for:  
(a) Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) CAS No 50 -32-8  
(b) Benzo[e]pyrene (BeP) CAS No 192 -97-2  
(c) Benzo[a]anthracene (BaA) CAS No 56 -55-3  
(d) Chrysen (CHR) CAS No 218 -01-9  
(e) Benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbFA) CAS No 205 -99-2  
(f) Benzo[j]fluoranthene (BjFA) CAS No 205 -82-3  
(g) Benzo[k]fluoranthene (BkF A) CAS No 207 -08-9  
(h) DiBenzo[a,h]fluoranthene (DBAhA) CAS No 53 -70-3 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Draft 
Commission Regulation amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the 
European Parliament and of the Council as regards Polycyclic -aromatic hydrocarbons 
(PAHs) in granules or mulches used as infill material in synthetic turf pitches or in  loose 
form on playgrounds or in sport applications (5 page(s), in English; 3 page(s), in English)  G/TBT/N/EU/736  
 
- 2 - 
 
  6. Description of content:  This draft Regulation would amend entry 50 of Annex XVII to 
Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 by adding the following restriction on:  
Granules or mulches shall not be placed on the market for use, or used as infill material 
in synthetic turf pitches or in loose form on playgrounds or in sport applications if they 
contain more than 20  mg/kg (0,002  % by weight) of the sum of the eight list ed PAHs. 
Definitions for granules, mulches, infill material in synthetic turf pitches and use in loose 
form on playgrounds and in sport applications other than synthetic turf pitches are also 
included. This restriction shall apply 12 months after its entry  into force.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Rubber granules used as infill material in synthetic turf pitches originate 
predominantly from End of life Tyres (ELT) and other rubber articles. The eight PAH 
substances are found as contaminants in the rubber matrix. This restriction is intended 
to prev ent a total content of all the eight carcinogenic PAHs of more than 20 mg/kg in 
granules or mulches used as infill material in synthetic turf pitches and granules or 
mulches in loose form on playgrounds or in sport applications. This concentration limit 
shall provide a high level of protection to human health (workers installing and 
maintaining the pitches and individuals playing sports on them and consumers, especially 
children); Protection of human health or safety  
8. Relevant documents:   
• Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on 
the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH 
Regulation):   
http://eur -lex.europa.eu/legal -
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1423064258789&uri=CELEX:32006R1907   
https://echa.europa.eu/registry -of-restric tion-intentions/ -
/dislist/details/0b0236e181d5746d  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  First quarter of 2021  
Proposed date of entry into force:  20 days from publication in the Official Journal of 
the EU. Application of the restriction would be deferred for 12 months after entry into 
force 
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
European Commission  
EU-TBT Enquiry Point  
Fax: + (32) 2 299 80 43  
E-mail: grow-eu-tbt@ec.europa.eu  
The text is available on the EU -TBT Website: http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools -
databases/tbt/en/  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/TBT/EEC/20_5316_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/TBT/EEC/20_5316_01_e.pdf