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Opinion of the Committee for Risk Assessment on an Annex XV dossier proposing restrictions of the manufacture, placing on the market or use of a substance within the EU. Methanol

The opinion of the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) relates to the EU-wide restriction on methanol as a constituent of windshield washing fluids (including windshield defrosters) and as an additive to denatured alcohol (methylated spirit, brennspiritus), in concentrations equal to, or greater than 3.0% by weight. Restriction proposal, i.e. the Annex XV report conforming to the requirements of the REACH Regulation, was prepared by Polish competent authority. The aim of the restriction proposal was to reduce the incidence of severe methanol poisoning following deliberate misuse of windshield washing fluids and denatured alcohol containing methanol, which are used as a cheap substitute for consumable alcohol by chronic alcoholics and, sporadically, by non-alcoholics (e.g. adolescent binge drinkers). The proposed restriction is also expected to prevent methanol poisoning following accidental ingestion of windshield washing fluids and denatured alcohol, including poisonings in children. It was concluded that the proposed restriction on methanol is the most appropriate EU wide measure to address the identified risks in terms of the effectiveness in reducing the risks provided that the conditions are modified.

risk assessment, REACH, restriction, methanol poisoning, misuse, windshield washing fluids, denatured alcohol

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