How to Understand REACH Use Descriptors

CRA

How to Understand REACH Use Descriptors

Little Pro on 2016-10-15

REACH use descriptor system is a system developed by ECHA to facilitate chemical risk assessment and supply chain communication. Under REACH, registrants who are required to carry out an exposure assessment have to address all identified uses of the substance and communicate the registered uses to downstream users. The downstream users also need to make sure that their uses are covered by REACH registration. In this tutorial, we will teach you how to map uses using REACH descriptor system and explain how the use descriptors are relevant to chemical risk assessment.

Overview of REACH Use Descriptors

REACH uses 5 descriptors such as sector of use (SU), process category (PROC), product category (PC), article category (AC) and environmental release category (ERC) to describe identified uses (see table below). Many of those descriptors can be used as input parameters to derive exposure estimates in modelling tools such as ECETOC-TRA and EUSES.

Category	Description
Life cycle stage	For each use, the life cycle stage of the substance must be firstly identified. Includes: manufacture, formulation (including repacking), industrial use, professional use, consumer use, service life stage (for article) and waste treatment.
Sector of use (SU)	Describes in which sector the substance is used. 3 main sectors: SU3: industrial; SU21: consumer; SU22: professional.
Process category (PROC)	Describes the application techniques or process types; Process category (PROC), operational conditions and risk management measures determine the level of occupational exposure for workers and professional users. Example: PROC7: Industrial spraying; PROC8a: Transfer of substance or preparation (charging/discharging) from/to vessels/large containers at dedicated facilities. Key input parameter in ECETOC TRA tool to derive worker exposure levels.
Product category (PC)	Describes the types of chemical products in which a substance is used. Product category, operational conditions and risk management measures primarily determine the level of consumer exposure. Examples: PC9a: Coatings and paints, thinners, paint removers; PC39: Cosmetics, personal care products
Article Category (AC)	Describes the type of article (including plastics and dried mixture) in which the substance has been processed. Examples: AC2: Machinery, mechanical appliances, electrical/electronic articles; AC13: Plastic articles
Environmental Release Category (ERC)	Describes the broad conditions of use from an environmental perspective, based on those characteristics that give a first indication of the potential release of the substance to the environment. Determines the level of enviromental exposure. Examples: ERC2: Formulation of preparations; ERC6a: Industrial use resulting in the manufacture of another substance (use of intermediates); ERC8a: Wide dispersive indoor use of processing aids in open systems

To be more specific, sector of use (SU), product category (PC) and article category (AC) describe market sectors while PROCs and ERCs describe specific activities. It should be noted that not all descriptors above are applicable at all stages of the life cycle. For example:

Manufacture of a substance: product category and article category are not applicable (no consumer exposure).
Formulation (including repacking): product category and article category are usually not applicable (no consumer exposure).
Consumer use of a substance: process category is not applicable.
A substance that is not incorporated to article: article category not applicable.

The picture below shows you how to map all uses with pigment as an example (market sector shall always be determined first).

REACH Use Descriptor

Example: REACH Use Mapping

Let's assume that there are 4 uses for substance A at different life cycle stages.

Use 1 manufacture of substance (Life cycle stage: manufacture)
Use 2 manufacture of cleaning products (Life cycle stage: formulation)
Use 3 professional use of cleaning products by auto maintenance workers (Life cycle stage: professional use)
Use 4 consumer use of cleaning products (Life cycle stage: consumer use)

The likely mapped uses using REACH use descriptors will be listed as follows.

Use	Sector of Use	Process Category	Product Category	Article Category	ERCs
1	SU3, SU8, SU9	PROC1, PROC2, PROC3, PROC4, PROC8a, PROC8b, PROC15	Not applicable	Not applicable	ERC1
2	SU10	PROC1, PROC2, PROC3, PROC4, PROC8b, PROC9	Not applicable	Not applicable	ERC2
3	SU22	PROC1, PROC2, PROC4, PROC81, PROC8b, PROC11, PROC13	PC35	Not applicable	ERC8a
4	SU21	Not applicable	PC35	Not applicable	ERC8a

Various industry associations have already mapped their own uses. It is very convenient to refer to those mapped uses to describe your own use. Some of those mapped uses are available as follows:

The picture below shows you how to record an exposure scenario using standard format.

Exposure Scenario

REACH Use Descriptor: Sector of Use (SU) Code

SU 8,9	U 8,9 - Manufacture of chemicals
SU14	SU14 - Manufacture of basic metals
SU 10	SU10 - Formulation
SU 3	SU3- Industrial uses
SU 22	SU22 - Consumer uses
SU 21	SU21 - Professional uses
SU 0-1	SU 0-1 - Other activity related to manufacturing of chemical products ( NACE Code to be used only; see last row )
SU 0-2	SU 0-2 - Other activities related to manufacture and services ( NACE Code to be used only: see last row)
SU1	SU1 - Agriculture, forestry, fishery
SU2a	SU2a - Mining, (without offshore industries)
SU2b	SU2b - Offshore industries
SU4	SU4 - Manufacture of food products
SU5	SU5 - Manufacture of textiles, leather, fur
SU6	SU6 - Manufacture of pulp, paper and paper products
SU7	SU7 - Printing and reproduction of recorded media
SU8	SU8 - Manufacture of bulk, large scale chemicals (including petroleum products)
SU9	SU9 - Manufacture of fine chemicals
SU11	SU11 - Manufacture of rubber products
SU12	SU12 - Manufacture of plastics products, including compounding and conversion
SU13	SU13 - Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products, e.g. plasters, cement
SU15	SU15 -Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment
SU16	SU16 - Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products, electrical equipment
SU17	SU17 - General manufacturing, e.g. machinery, equipment, vehicles, other transport equipment.
SU18	SU18 - Manufacture of furniture
SU19	SU19 - Building and construction work
SU20	SU20 - Health services
SU23	SU23 - Recycling

REACH Use Descriptor: Process Category (PROC) Code

PROC 0 - Other Process or activity
PROC 1 - Use in closed process, no likelihood of ex-posure
PROC 2 - Use in closed, continuous process with oc-casional controlled exposure (e.g. sam-pling)
PROC 3 - Use in closed batch process (synthesis or formulation)
PROC 4 - Use in batch and other process (synthesis) where opportunity for exposure arises
PROC 5 - Mixing or blending in batch processes for formulation of preparations and articles (multistage and/or significant contact)
PROC 6 - Calendering operations
PROC 7 - Industrial spraying
PROC 8a - Transfer of substance or preparation (charging/discharging) from/to vessels/large containers at non-dedicated facilities
PROC 8b - Transfer of substance or preparation (charging/discharging) from/to vessels/large containers at dedicated facilities
PROC 9 - Transfer of substance or preparation into small containers (dedicated filling line, including weighing)
PROC 10 - Roller application or brushing
PROC 11 - Non industrial spraying
PROC 12 - Use of blowing agents in manufacture offoam
PROC 13 - Treatment of articles by dipping and pour-ing
PROC 14 - Production of preparations or articles by tabletting, compression, extrusion, pelleti-sation
PROC 15 - Use as laboratory reagent
PROC 16 - Using material as fuel sources, limited ex-posure to unburned product to be expected
PROC 17 - Lubrication at high energy conditions and in partly open process
PROC 18 - Greasing at high energy conditions
PROC 19 - Hand-mixing with intimate contact and only PPE available.
PROC 20 - Heat and pressure transfer fluids in disper-sive, professional use but closed systems
PROC 21 - Low energy manipulation of substances in form of massive metal or bound in other materials and/or articles
PROC 22 - Potentially closed processing operations with minerals/metals at elevated tempera-ture
PROC 23 - Open processing and transfer operations with minerals/metals at elevated tempera-ture
PROC 24 - High (mechanical) energy work-up of mas-sive metals or substances bound in materi-als and/or articles
PROC 25 - Other hot work operations with metals Welding, soldering, gouging, brazing, flame cutting
PROC 26 - Handling of solid inorganic substances at ambient temperature
PROC 27 - Production of metal powders

REACH Use Descriptor: Product Category (PC) Code

PC0	PC0 - Other products (use UCN codes: see last row)
PC1	PC1 - Adhesives, Sealants
PC2	PC2 - Adsorbents
PC3	PC3 - Air care products
PC4	PC4 - Anti-Freeze and De-icing products
PC5	PC5 - Artists Supply and Hobby preparations
PC7	PC7 - Base metals and alloys
PC8	PC8 - Biocidal Products (e.g. Disinfectants, pest control)
PC9a	PC9a - Coatings and Paints, Thinners, paint remov-ers
PC9b	PC9b - Fillers, Putties
PC10	PC10 - Building and construction preparations not covered elsewhere
PC11	PC11 - Explosives
PC12	PC12 - Fertilizers
PC13	PC13 - Fuels
PC14	PC14 - Metal surface treatment products, including galvanic and electroplating products
PC15	PC15 - Non-metal-surface treatment products
PC16	PC16 - Heat Transfer Fluids
PC17	PC17 - Hydraulic Fluids
PC18	PC18 - Ink and Toners
PC19	PC19 - Intermediate
PC20	PC20 - Products such as ph-regulators, flocculants, precipitants, neutralization agents, other un-specific
PC21	PC21 - Laboratory Chemicals
PC22	PC22 - Lawn and Garden Preparations, including fertilizers
PC23	PC23 - Leather tanning, dye, finishing, impregnation and care produts
PC24	PC24 - Lubricants, Greases and Release Products
PC25	PC25 - Metal Working Fluids
PC26	PC26 - Paper and board dye, finishing and impregna-tion products: including bleaches and other processing aids;
PC27	PC27 - Plant Protection Products
PC28	PC28 - Perfumes, Fragrances
PC29	PC29 - Pharmaceuticals
PC30	PC30 - Photochemicals
PC31	PC31 - Polishes and Wax Blends
PC32	PC32 - Polymer Preparations and Compounds
PC33	PC33 - Semiconductors
PC34	PC34 - Textile dyes, finishing and impregnating products; including bleaches and other proc-essing aids;
PC35	PC35 - Washing and Cleaning Products (including solvent based products)
PC36	PC36 - Water softeners
PC37	PC37 - Water treatment chemicals
PC38	PC38 - Welding and soldering products, flux prod-ucts
PC39	PC39 - Cosmetics, personal care products
PC40	PC40 - Extraction agents

REACH Use Descriptor: Article Category (PC) Code

AC 0	AC 0 - Other Articles (use TARIC terminology: see last row)
AC 1-1	AC 1-1 - Passenger cars and motor cycles
AC 1-2	AC 1-2 - Other vehicles: Railway, aircraft, vessels, boats, trucks, and associated transport equipment
AC 2	AC 2 - Machinery and mechanical appliances thereof
AC 3-1	AC 3-1 - Electrical and electronic products, e.g. computers, office equipment, video and audio recording, communication equipment
AC 3-2	AC 3-2 - Electrical batteries and accumulators
AC 3-3	AC 3-3 - Electrical and electronic products: Household appliances (white ware)
AC 3-4	AC 3-4 - Photographic and reprographic articles: cameras, video cameras
AC 4	AC 4 - Glass and ceramic products: dinner ware, pots, pans, food storage con-tainers
AC 5-1	AC 5-1 - Fabrics, textiles and apparel: bedding and clothing
AC 5-2	AC 5-2 - Fabrics, textiles and apparel: curtains, upholstery, carpeting/flooring, rugs,
AC 6	AC 6 - Leather products: apparel and upholstery
AC 7-1	AC 7-1 - Metal products: cutlery, cooking utensils, pots, pans,
AC 7-2	AC 7-2 - Metal products: toys
AC 7-3	AC 7-3 - Metal products: furniture
AC 8-1	AC 8-1 - Paper products: tissue, towels, disposable dinnerware, nappies, feminine hygiene products, adult incontinence products, writing paper
AC 8-2	AC 8-2 - Paper products: newspaper, packaging
AC 9	AC 9 - Photographic and reprographic articles: films, printed photographs
AC 10-1	AC 10-1 - Rubber products: tyres
AC 10-2	AC 10-2 - Rubber products: flooring
AC 10-3	AC 10-3 - Rubber products: footwear
AC 10-4	AC 10-4 - Rubber products: toys
AC 10-5	AC 10-5 - Other general rubber products
AC 11-1	AC 11-1 - Wood and wood furniture: flooring
AC 11-2	AC 11-2 - Wood and wood furniture: furniture
AC 11-3	AC 11-3 - Wood and wood furniture: toys
AC 12-1	AC 12-1 - Constructional articles and building material: wall construction material ceramic, metal, plastic and wood construction material, insulating mate-rial (without indoor flooring)
AC 13-1	AC 13-1 - Commercial/consumer plastic products like disposable dinner ware, food storage, food packaging, baby bottles
AC 13-2	AC 13-2 - Plastic products: Flooring
AC 13-3	AC 13-3 - Plastic products: Toys
AC30	AC30 - Other articles with intended release of substances
AC31	AC31 - Scented clothes
AC32	AC32 -Scented eraser
AC34	AC-4 - Scented Toys
AC35	AC35 - Scented paper articles
AC36	AC36 - Scented CD
AC37	AC37 - Other scented articles; please
AC38	AC38 - Packaging material for metal parts, releasing grease/corrosion inhibitors
AC39	AC39 - Other articles releasing grease or corrosion inhibitors;

REACH Use Descriptor: Environmental Release Category (ERC) Code

ERC 1 - Manufacture of substances	Manufacture of organic and inorganic substances in chemical, petro-chemical, primary metals and minerals industry including intermedi-ates, monomers using continuous processes or batch processes.
ERC 2 - Formulation of preparations	Mixing and blending of substances into (chemical) preparations in all types of formulating industries
ERC 3 - Formulation in materials	Mixing or blending of substances, which will be physically or chemi-cally bound into or onto a matrix (material) such as plastics additives in master batches or plastic compounds.
ERC 4 - Industrial use of processing aids in processes and products, not becoming part of articles	Industrial use of processing aids in continuous processes or batch processes applying dedicated or multi-purpose equipment, either tech-nically controlled or operated by manual interventions. For example, solvents used in chemical reactions or the ‘use’ of solvents during the application of paints, lubricants in metal working fluids, anti-set off agents in polymer moulding/casting
ERC 5 - Industrial use resulting in in-clusion into or onto a matrix	Industrial use of substances as such or in preparations (non-processing aids), which will be physically or chemically bound into or onto a ma-trix (material) such as binding agent in paints and coatings or adhesives, dyes in textile fabrics and leather products, metals in coatings applied through plating and galvanizing processes. The category covers substances in articles with a particular function and also substances remaining in the article after having been used as processing aid in an earlier life cycle stage.
ERC 6A - Industrial use resulting in manufacture of another sub-stance (use of intermediates)	Use of intermediates in primarily the chemical industry using continuous processes or batch processes applying dedicated or multi-purpose equipment, either technically controlled or operated by manual inter-ventions, for the synthesis (manufacture) of other substances. For instance the use of chemical building blocks (feedstock) in the synthesis of agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, monomers etc.
ERC 6B - Industrial use of reactive processing aids	Industrial use of reactive processing aids in continuous processes or batch processes applying dedicated or multi-purpose equipment, either technically controlled or operated by manual interventions. For exam-ple the use of bleaching agents in the paper industry.
ERC 6C - Industrial use of monomers for polymerisation	Industrial use of monomers in the production of plastics (thermoplas-tics), polymerization processes. For example the use of vinyl chloride monomer in the production of PVC
ERC 6D - Industrial use of auxiliaries for polymerisation processes in production of resins, rubbers, polymers	Industrial use of chemicals (cross-linking agents, curing agents) in the production of thermosets and rubbers, polymerization processes. For instance the use of styrene in polyester production or vulcanization agents in the production of rubbers
ERC 7 - Industrial use of substances in closed systems	Industrial use of substances in closed systems. Use in closed equipment, such as the use of liquids in hydraulic systems, cooling liquids in refrigerators and with the product producedlubricants in engines and dielectric fluids in electric transformers and oil in heat exchangers. No intended contact with the products produced.
ERC 8A - Wide dispersive indoor use of processing aids in open systems	Indoor use of processing aids by the public at large or professional use. Use (usually) results in direct release into the environ-ment/sewage system, for example, detergents in fabric washing, ma-chine wash liquids and lavatory cleaners, automotive and bicycle care products (polishes, lubricants, de-icers), solvents in paints and adhe-sives or fragrances and aerosol propellants in air fresheners.
ERC 8B - Wide dispersive indoor use of reactive substances in open systems	Indoor use of reactive substances by the public at large or professional use. Use (usually) results in direct release into the environment, for example, sodium hypochlorite in lavatory cleaners, bleaching agents in fabric washing products, hydrogen peroxide in dental care products
ERC 8C - Wide dispersive indoor use resulting in inclusion into or onto a matrix	Indoor use of substances (non-processing aids) by the public at large or professional use, which will be physically or chemically bound into or onto a matrix (material) such as binding agent in paints and coat-ings or adhesives, dyeing of textile fabrics.
ERC 8D - Wide dispersive outdoor use of processing aids in open systems	Outdoor use of processing aids by the public at large or professional use. Use (usually) results in direct release into the environment, for example, automotive and bicycle care products (polishes, lubricants, de-icers, detergents), solvents in paints and adhesives.
ERC 8E - Wide dispersive outdoor use of reactive substances in open systems	Outdoor use of reactive substances by the public at large or profes-sional use.
ERC 8F - Wide dispersive outdoor use resulting in inclusion into or onto a matrix	Outdoor use of substances (non-processing aids) by the public at large or professional use, which will be physically or chemically bound into or onto a matrix (material) such as binding agent in paints.
ERC 9A - Wide dispersive indoor use of substances in closed systems	Indoor use of substances by the public at large or professional (small scale) use in closed systems. Use in closed equipment, such as the use of cooling liquids in refrigerators, oil-based electric heaters.
ERC 9B - Wide dispersive outdoor use of substances in closed sys-tems	Outdoor use of substances by the public at large or professional (small scale) use in closed systems. Use in closed equipment, such as the use of hydraulic liquids in automotive suspension, lubricants in motor oil and break fluids in automotive brake systems.
ERC 10A - Wide dispersive outdoor use of long-life articles and mate-rials with low release	Low release of substances included into or onto articles and materials during their service life in outdoor use, such as metal, wooden and plastic construction and building materials (gutters, drains, frames etc.)
ERC 10B - Wide dispersive outdoor use of long-life articles and mate-rials with high or intended release	Substances included into or onto articles and materials with high or intended release during their service life from outdoor use. Such as tyres, treated wooden products, treated textile and fabric like sun blinds and parasols.

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