Chemical name: 1,2-dibromoethane

Final regulatory action has been taken for the category: Industrial

Final regulatory action: The chemical is Banned

Use or uses prohibited by the final regulatory action:

Ethylene dibromide and mixtures containing 50% or more of ethylene dibromide are banned for manufacture, import and use as an industrial chemical. No remaining uses are allowed.

Use or uses that remain allowed:

Ethylene dibromide and mixtures containing 0.1% or more of ethylene dibromide are designated as toxic chemicals in TCCA (Designation of Toxic Chemicals/Observational Chemicals, NIER's Public Notice no. 2000-2, 24). So mixtures containing less than 50% of ethylene dibromide may be manufacture or used only after registration to competent authorities. Use of the chemical for research or laboratory purposes is allowed.

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

Summary of the final regulatory action:

Ethylene dibromide and mixtures containing 50% or more of ethylene dibromide are banned for manufacture, import and use as an industrial chemical. No remaining uses are allowed.

The reasons for the final regulatory action were relevant to:

Summary of known hazards and risks to human health:

Ethylene dibromide has acute toxic effects on humans. Based on evidence of carcinogenicity in laboratory animals, ethylene dibromide is considered a suspect human carcinogen. It is mutagenic. Experimental animal studies indicated tha thte liver and kidneys are potential targets following long-term exposure to ethylene dibromide.

Expected effect of the final regulatory action in relation to human health:

It is expected that the regulatory action will significantly reduce the potential risk to workers and others involved in manufacture, application and use.

Date of entry into force of the final regulatory action: 13/11/2003

Ethylene dibromide and mixtures containing 50% or more of ethylene dibromide were banned for manufacture, use and import by MOE's Public Notice No. 1991-44(9 Augustr 1991). the notice was amended several times and final amended notice took into force on 13 November 2003.