02/04/2015

We care about your safety

In December 2015 amendments to the REACH Regulation, limiting the amount of PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) present in the materials for the infill of artificial turf will enter into force. SO.F.TER. is fully compliant with these new parameters. How many other infill products will comply with the new rules?

Not all infill materials are equal. At SO.F.TER. we value players’ safety and materials reliability as the most important aspects for the success of our products.

Many people, particularly youngsters, spend a lot of time training on synthetic turf fields and often get in direct contact with the infill granules by skin contact, breathing and, in some cases, even ingestion. A material often employed for the infill of artificial turf is SBR rubber, obtained through the grinding of post-consumer tires. The safety of SBR has long been questioned by the public and by some institutions because of their content of potentially carcinogenic substances, including PAHs.

 

REACH

Effective December 27, 2015, the European Regulation 1272/2013 will come into force, thus modifying Annex XVII of the REACH regulation (EC n° 1907/2006) and posing stricter limitations to the presence of eight PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) substances. The new limits are set to 1 mg/kg for each one of the 8 PAHs mentioned in the Regulation and will also apply to the granules for the infill of artificial turf which are in close and constant contact with the body of players. All products with PAH content in excess of 1mg/kg will not be allowed to enter the market.

Given the severe constraints introduced by the new norms, we are glad to announce that SO.F.TER. TPE granules already fulfill the new REACH requirements!

Read the Regulation N. 1272/2013, updating the acceptable PAH content for products marketed inside of the EU.

 

Choose the safest products on the market!

Our TPE granules are fully recyclable, made with virgin materials, engineered to offer top athletic performance under a variety of climatic conditions and, most importantly, they do not contain substances that could endanger players' health such as:

  • Phtalates and heavy metals
  • Dangerous substances listed under the European Standard EN 71-3:2013 (Safety of Toys)
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) as per European Regulation N. 1272/2013, amending Annex XVII to the REACH Regulation N. 1907/2006.
  • VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) as per D.Lgs 152/2006, Art. 268 Listed in the EU directive EN 71.3 (Safety of toys)
  • Halogens, as per European standard IEC 61249-2-21 (max ppm: 1500)

Moreover, our products successfully passed the tests on the basis of the following standards:

  • FIFA Quality Concept (analysis performed by ISA SPORT, NL)
  • DIN 18035-7:2013-6

 

A quick look at the REACH regulation:

Reach is the European Union Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals. Compliance to REACH is binding for all European manufacturers and importers. Globally, REACH compliance is an indicator of the health and environmental safety of a product.

Registration

All manufacturers and importers of chemicals must identify and handle the risks related to the substances that they produce and market. Non-registered substances cannot be manufactured nor imported to the EU.

Evaluation

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) evaluates the information submitted to verify if the substance constitutes a risk to human health or the environment.

Authorisation

The authorisation procedure assures that the risks from Substances of Very High Concern are properly controlled and that these substances are progressively replaced.

Restriction

Restrictions are a tool to protect human health and the environment from unacceptable risks posed by chemicals. Restrictions are contained in the Annex XVII to REACH, and they may limit or ban the manufacture, placing on the market or use of a substance.