30 April 2004 - Voluntary Phasing Out of Nonylphenol, Octylphenol and their Ethoxylates
Nonylphenol, Octylphenol and their Ethoxylates are used in a range of products and processes, including industrial and domestic cleaning agents, textile and leather processes, metal working, personal care products and cosmetics. Following recent consultation, user industries of these chemicals propose to voluntarily phase out their most dangerous uses as soon as possible.
The voluntary industry programme of action, facilitated by the Department for Food and Rural Affairs, aims to work with customers to help find safer alternatives. This prudent action has been prompted by concern over persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity posed by the substances. The agreement was reached ahead of EU legislation banning the use of Nonylphenol and its Ethoxylates which comes into force next year.
The voluntary programme of action aims to bring about the early reduction of use for these chemicals and preventing uses of Octylphenol and its Ethoxylates as substitutes.
This is good news in the case of Octylphenol and its Ethoxylates, where possible legislation to ban their use is still at an early stage.
