Public consultation on RAC's draft opinion on the toxicity to reproduction of gallium arsenide

Public consultation on RAC's draft opinion on the toxicity to reproduction of gallium arsenide

ECHA/PR/13/22

ECHA invites the parties concerned to comment on a draft opinion by RAC concerning the toxicity to reproduction of gallium arsenide before its adoption by the Committee.

Helsinki, 29 May 2013 – ECHA invites the parties concerned to comment on a draft opinion by RAC concerning the toxicity to reproduction of gallium arsenide before its adoption by the Committee. This consultation was foreseen in the specific request from the Executive Director of ECHA to RAC and is being launched now that RAC has prepared its draft opinion.

As a result of receiving additional information on reproductive toxicity during a previous public consultation associated with carcinogenicity in 2011 and, subsequently in December 2011 by industry, RAC was given a new mandate by the Executive Director (ED) of ECHA, pursuant to Article 77(3)(c) in REACH. RAC was requested to evaluate the new data on toxicity to reproduction, taking into account its previously adopted opinion of 2010 classifying the substance as toxic to reproduction, category 1B.   

The public consultation is open solely for comments on toxicity to reproduction of gallium arsenide, and more specifically concerning effects on sexual function and fertility. This is a concluding consultation specifically restricted to address the draft opinion already agreed by RAC, and considering its exceptional timing, this is not a call for new data or studies.

The draft opinion as well as the ED mandate to the RAC are available on the ECHA website. The comments received during the public consultation will be regularly published on the ECHA website during the 21-day consultation period which will end on 19 June 2013. Comments will be considered by RAC in its final opinion. ECHA will then submit the RAC opinion to the European Commission who will take the final decision on the harmonised classification.

Gallium arsenide (EC 215-114-8 / CAS 1303-00-0) is used in the microelectronic industry.