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Article 60 of the REACH Regulation, entitled ‘Granting of authorisations’, states: ‘1. The Commission shall be responsible for taking decisions on applications for authorisations in accordance with this Title. 2. Without prejudice to paragraph 3, an authorisation shall be granted if the risk to human health or the environment from the use of a substance arising from the intrinsic properties specified in Annex XIV is adequately controlled in accordance with Section 6.4 of Annex I and as documented in the applicant’s chemical safety report, taking into account the opinion of the Committee for Risk Assessment referred to in Article 64(4)(a). When granting the authorisation, and in any conditions imposed therein, the Commission shall take into account all discharges, emissions and losses, including risks arising from diffuse or dispersive uses, known at the time of the decision. … 3. Paragraph 2 shall not apply to: (a) substances meeting the criteria in Article 57(a), (b), (c) or (f) for which it is not possible to determine a threshold in accordance with Section 6.4 of Annex I; (b) substances meeting the criteria in Article 57(d) or (e); (c) substances identified under Article 57(f) having persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic properties or very persistent and very bioaccumulative properties. 4. If an authorisation cannot be granted under paragraph 2 or for substances listed in paragraph 3, an authorisation may only be granted if it is shown that socio-economic benefits outweigh the risk to human health or the environment arising from the use of the substance and if there are no suitable alternative substances or technologies. This decision shall be taken after consideration of all of the following elements and taking into account the opinions of the Committee for Risk Assessment and the Committee for Socio-economic Analysis …: (a) the risk posed by the uses of the substance, including the appropriateness and effectiveness of the risk management measures proposed; (b) the socio-economic benefits arising from its use and the socio-economic implications of a refusal to authorise as demonstrated by the applicant or other interested parties; (c) the analysis of the alternatives submitted by the applicant under Article 62(4)(e) or any substitution plan submitted by the applicant under Article 62(4)(f), and any third party contributions submitted under Article 64(2); (d) available information on the risks to human health or the environment of any alternative substances or technologies. 5. When assessing whether suitable alternative substances or technologies are available, all relevant aspects shall be taken into account by the Commission, including: (a) whether the transfer to alternatives would result in reduced overall risks to human health and the environment, taking into account the appropriateness and effectiveness of risk management measures; (b) the technical and economic feasibility of alternatives for the applicant. … 7. An authorisation shall be granted only if the application is made in conformity with the requirements of Article 62. … 10. Notwithstanding any conditions of an authorisation, the holder shall ensure that the exposure is reduced to as low a level as is technically and practically possible.’