Space industry faces new limits on hazardous chemicals

The European elections on 6–9 June 2024 will pave the way for further actions related to the European Green Deal to achieve carbon neutrality for Europe by 2050 and the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability.

This will affect manufacturers, importers and users of hazardous chemicals and also EU suppliers of articles which are bound under EU chemical legislation including the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals) Regulation and the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation.

New REACH restrictions

The ‘Universal PFAS restriction proposal’ is expected to limit the manufacture, market availability, use and presence of thousands of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) which are or may be harmful to human health and the environment.

Similarly, chromates classified as carcinogenic are set for further restrictions.

An EU-funded project LETTERSS (Lead-free Transition for the European Space Sector) which started in January 2024 will help to plan and prepare to implement new processes to deal with a full transition to lead-free electronics for the space industry.

Free one-day workshop at ESA

On Wednesday 19 June, ESA will hold its fifth workshop on REACH at ESA ESTEC in Noordwijk, The Netherlands, with an option to join online.

This interactive full-day event (ca. 9:00–17:30 CEST) will explain and discuss the current state of play, challenges and risks associated with these EU chemicals regulations (mainly REACH/CLP) and related requirements with experts from European space agencies, regulators and industry.

The event is open to interested stakeholders from space agencies and industry, SMEs, other sectors and representatives from the European Commission, the European Chemicals Agency, the European Parliament and ESA Member States.

If you wish to attend, please click here to register.