Copper

Classification & Labelling Proposals for Copper

On behalf of the SIEF Facilitator for "Copper" the European Copper Institute is authorised to communicate this information to all participants in the SIEFs for the EINECS numbers listed below.

ECI Ref

Sustance

SIEF Facilitator

Copper
(EC 231-159-6)

Aurubis A.G.

Copper is defined as :

"Metal with copper content ≥ 99.90 %, e.g. in the form of cathodes, fire-refined ingots and unwrought shapes (billets, slabs and cakes, etc). Other materials, also referred to in the market as copper, with elemental copper contents > 80% and < 99.90% are covered in "Anode" (Intermediate B1).

The Joint Registration dossier was successfully submitted to ECHA on 20th September 2010. Members of the ECI-managed Consortium, along with customers who purchased Letters of Access, were provided with the necessary documents, plus the required REACH IT security token.

ECI's REACH Classification, Labelling and Packaging proposals for copper are as follows (Click here for more details):

1. Copper massive (particle size equivalent to a sphere with diameter > 1 mm and specific surface area < 0,67 mm²/mg; ≥ 99.90 % purity):

No classification and no labelling for Human Health or the Environment

2. Copper powder (particle size > 10 µm and < 1 mm; ≥ 95 % copper, ≤ 5 % Cu2O):

Hazard class and category code(s)	Hazard statement
Aquatic Acute 1	H400 Very toxic to aquatic life M-factor = 1

3. Coated copper flakes (particle size in the range of 5 - 100 µm, with stearic acid coating; ≥ 93% copper, ≤ 3 % stearic acid and ≤ 3 % Cu2O):

Hazard class and category code(s)	Hazard Statement
Aquatic Acute 1	H400 Very toxic to aquatic life M-factor = 1
Acute Tox 4	H302 Harmful if swallowed
	H332 Harmful if inhaled

Downstream users can click here to see the list of "Identified uses" contained within the Chemical Safety Report for Copper. This also shows the process codes described in the REACH regulation and ECHA guidance documents.

New guidance (July 2011) on how Downstream Users can use the REACH Exposure Scenarios to ensure safe use in their own operations can be accessed here. .

ECI will continue to offer Letters of Access to registrants. The ECHA registration deadline is June 1st 2013 for tonnages between 100 and 1,000 T and June 1st 2018 for tonnages between 1 and 100 T. Click here to download the terms & conditions and application form (click here for Word version), and here for the fees.

Earlier communications made to this SIEF can be accessed below:

- SIEF Progress and Status for Copper - March 2010

- ECI Communication to SIEF - October 2009 .

- Lead Registrant Communication to ECHA - June 2009

- ECI Communication to SIEF - January 2009

In case of questions, please contact REACH@eurocopper.org