AkzoNobel N.V. and Merck Group are two of many chemical companies that could be affected by a proposed ban on eighteen hazardous substances in the European Union.
The European Chemicals Agency’s proposal, released Sept. 5, would make the substances subject to authorization under the EU’s REACH chemicals law. Most substances on the list are manufactured or used in low volumes in the EU with only a limited number of suppliers, except for the widely-used chemical bisphenol A (BPA).
The main use of BPA—in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics—wouldn’t be covered by the authorization ...