Chemical name: Creosote

Final regulatory action has been taken for the category: Industrial

Final regulatory action: The chemical is Severely Restricted

Use or uses prohibited by the final regulatory action:

1.Shall not be used as substances or in preparation in the treatment of wood. Furthermore, wood so treated shall not be placed on the market.

2.However by way of derogation:

(i)Relating to the substances and preparations: these may be used for wood treatment in industrial installations or by professionals covered by EU legislation on the protection of workers for in situ retreatment only if they contain:

(a) benzo[a]pyrene at a concentration of less than 0.005% by mass

(b) and water extractable phenols at a concentration of less than 3% by mass.

Such substances and preparations for use in wood treatment in industrial installations or by professions:

- may be placed on the market only in packaging of a capacity equal to or greater than 20 litres,

- shall not be sold to consumers.

Without prejudice to the application of other EU provisions on the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances and preparations, the packaging of such substances and preparations shall be legibly and indelibly marked as follows: "For use in industrial installations or professional treatment only".

(ii)Relating to wood treated in industrial installations or by professionals according (i) which is placed on the market for the first time or retreated in situ: this is permitted for professional and industrial use only, e.g. on railways, in electric power transmission and telecommunications, for fencing, for agricultural puposes (eg stakes for tree support) and in harbours and waterways.

(iii) The prohibition in paragraph 1 on the placing on the market shall not apply to wood which has been treated with this substance before 31 December 2002: and is placed on the secondhand market for re-use.

3.However, treated wood referred to under paragraphs 2(ii) and (iii) shall not be used:

-inside buildings whatever their purpose.

-in toys,

-in playgrounds,

-in parks, gardens and outdoor recreational and leisure facilities where there is a risk of frequent skin contact,

-in the manufacture of garden furniture such as picnic tables

-for the manufacture and use and any retreatment of:

(a) containers intended for growing purposes.

(b) packaging that may come into contact with raw materials, intermediate or finished products destined for human and/or animal consumption,

(c) other materials which may contaminate the articles mentioned above.

Use or uses that remain allowed:

All other uses not listed in the table above.

The final regulatory action was based on a risk or hazard evaluation: Yes

Summary of the final regulatory action:

Shall not be used as substances or in preparations in the treatment of wood. Furthermore, wood so treated shall not be placed on the market. Certain exceptions apply.

The reasons for the final regulatory action were relevant to: Human health and environment

Summary of known hazards and risks to human health:

Exposure to creosote leads to irritation of skin and eyes, and increases the risk of cancer. This applies to exposure to the substance both in gaseous and aerosol state as well as after direct skin contact. May give contact dermatitis.

Summary of known hazards and risks to the environment:

The substance is toxic to aquatic organisms. This substance may be hazardous in the environment; special attention should be given to soil contamination, ground water contamination. It is strongly advised that this substance does not enter the environment.

Date of entry into force of the final regulatory action: 01/01/2001