EU Court has annulled Commission´s classification of Titanium dioxide (TiO2) as carcinogen substance by inhalation in certain powder forms

Article

Titanium dioxide is an inorganic chemical substance used, in particular in the form of a white pigment, for its colourant and covering properties in various products, ranging from paints to medicinal products and toys.

In 2020 the European Commission adopted a regulation (2020/217) that classified titanium dioxide as a carcinogenic substance by inhalation in certain powder forms on the basis of the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) Committee for Risk Assessment’s (RAC) opinion.

Last November the European General Court annulled the European Commission's decision to classify Titanium dioxide as potentially carcinogenic due to a “manifest error in its assessment” of the studies used and because it was not based on an “intrinsic property” of the substance.

This decision to annul the regulation impacts use of the chemical in certain applications such as paint and does not impact titanium dioxide’s use as a food or feed additive. The additive, which is listed as E171, remains banned in food and feed in the EU.

Algol Chemicals’ pigment portfolio contains Titanium dioxide used in the coatings industry. The products are of the highest quality and sourced from our responsible and reliable partners. 

Sources

The Judgment of the General Court (Press Release No 190/22)

European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) Safety assessment of titanium dioxide (E171) as a food additive

Further information

Päivi Autiovuori, Team Leader, HSEQ, t. +358 50 588 0488

Tags:  Paints