On April 1st, 2025, the European Commission adopted Regulation (EU) 2025/660 on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in clay targets, amending Annex XVII of Regulation 1907/2006 (REACH) of the European Parliament and of the Council. The updated text contains a well-defined list of substances covered by this restriction.
Restriction 50a contains a list of substances, precisely 18 PAHs listed below, which may not be placed on the market or used, on their own or as components of other substances, in clay targets when their sum exceeds the concentration limit of 0.005%.
| Name | CAS | EC |
|---|---|---|
| Acenaphthene | 83-32-9 | 201-469-6 |
| Acenaphthylene | 208-96-8 | 205-917-1 |
| Anthracene | 120-12-7 | 204-371-1 |
| Benzo[a]anthracene | 56-55-3 | 200-280-6 |
| Benzo[a]pyrene (Benzo[def]chrysene) | 50-32-8 | 200-028-5 |
| Benzo[b]fluoranthene (Benzo[e]acephenanthrylene) | 205-99-2 | 205-911-9 |
| Benzo[e]pyrene | 192-97-2 | 205-892-7 |
| Benzo[ghi]perylene | 191-24-2 | 205-883-8 |
| Benzo[j]fluoranthene | 205-82-3 | 205-910-3 |
| Benzo[k]fluoranthene | 207-08-9 | 205-916-6 |
| Chrysene | 218-01-9 | 205-923-4 |
| Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene | 53-70-3 | 200-181-8 |
| Fluoranthene | 206-44-0 | 205-912-4 |
| Fluorene | 86-73-7 | 201-695-5 |
| Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene | 193-39-5 | 205-893-2 |
| Naphthalene | 91-20-3 | 202-049-5 |
| Phenanthrene | 85-01-8 | 201-581-5 |
| Pyrene | 129-00-0 | 204-927-3 |
Regulation 2025/660 will enter into force on 21 April 2025, however, the Commission considers it appropriate to grant a transitional period of 12 months, so that as from 22 April 2026 the restriction 50a will be mandatory.
Trace One has planned a regulatory review on this issue and will keep you updated.
For more information on Regulation 2025/660, please consult the following link: