European Commission Allows Continued Use of Flame Retardant Deca-BDE

10-21-2005: The European Commission will allow the continued use of the brominated flame retardant known as Deca-BDE in electronics and electronics products. In a decision published in its official journal the Commission exempted Deca-BDE from its Restrictions on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive.

The Commission said its decision rested on the results of an extensive, 10-year-long Risk Assessment that was completed in May 2004. That risk assessment concluded that Deca-BDE did not pose human or environmental risks in need of additional regulation. The Commission also noted in its decision that the manufacturers of Deca-BDE have established a voluntary program to reduce emissions to the environment.

"This is a very important decision for Deca-BDE and for science," said Dr. Raymond B. Dawson, chairman of the Bromine Science and Environmental Forum (BSEF), an industry group comprised of the major manufacturers of brominated flame retardants. "Deca-BDE is the most studied flame retardant in existence, and this decision rests firmly on such studies. Now there is a clear decision that policy makers in both North America and Europe can look to for guidance, and manufacturers around the world know they can continue to use this highly- effective flame retardant."

This Commission decision is supported by an earlier opinion of the European Council of Ministers, a majority of which voted in favor of the exemption in September.

Deca-BDE is used to slow the spread of fires in the plastic components of electric and electronics equipment, as well as in the textiles and transportation industries.