The Product Restricted Substances List of ANFAO: an Example of Innovative Document for the Risk Governance and Safety Management of Eyewear

On 30 December 2006, the REACH regulation was published in the Official Journal and it came immediately into force in the EU member states plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, which adopt it. Compared to the past legislation on the subject, the novelty introduced is the reversal of the burden of proof, i.e. the industry will guarantee that its goods that produces and merchandises are not harmful for the environment and human health Manufacturers, importers and users are obliged to manufacture, use or place on the market substances that do not cause harm to health or environment, regulating the substance throughout its life cycle, and even in products in which they are present. The regulation also establishes the European Chemistry Agency, whose mission is to secure the use and circulation of chemicals in Europe. This change in scenario has created serious troubles in the conformity assigning to products. In order to deal with this situation and to support members in the chemical safety assessment process, the Associazione Nazionale Fabbricanti Articoli Ottici (Italian National Association of Optical Goods Manufacturers), through its Technical Committee, in 2010 prepared a list of materials used by glasses, lenses and cases manufacturers matching substances and their risk level. Therefore an ad hoc Product Restricted Substance List has been developed to define specific Market Limits with their related test methods, that take into account the main international regulations. The document has been divided into two documents, one for spectacles and lenses, and one for cases.