Appendix I
Detergents Ingredients Database (DID) list
The DID list (Part A) is a list containing information of the aquatic toxicity and biodegradability of ingredients typically used in detergent formulations. The list includes information on the toxicity and biodegradability of a range of substances used in washing and cleaning products. The list is not comprehensive, but guidance is given in Part B of the DID list concerning the determination of the relevant calculation parameters for substances not present on the DID list (e.g. the Toxicity Factor (TF) and degradation factor (DF), which are used for calculation of the critical dilution volume). The list is a generic source of information and substances present on the DID list are not automatically approved for use in EU Ecolabelled products. The DID list (Parts A and B) can be found on the EU Ecolabel website.
For substances with no data regarding aquatic toxicity and degradability, structure analogies with similar substances may be used to assess the TF and DF. Such structure analogies shall be approved by the competent body granting the EU Ecolabel license. Alternatively, a worst-case approach shall be applied, using the parameters below:
Worst-case approach:
|
|
Acute toxicity |
Chronic toxicity |
Degradation |
||||||
|
Ingredient |
LC50/EC50 |
SF(acute) |
TF(acute) |
NOEC (1) |
SF(chronic) (1) |
TF(chronic) |
DF |
Aerobic |
Anaerobic |
|
‘Name’ |
1 mg/l |
10 000 |
0,0001 |
|
|
0,0001 |
1 |
P |
N |
|
(*1) If no acceptable chronic toxicity data are found, these columns are empty. In that case TF(chronic) is defined as equal to TF(acute). |
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Documentation of ready biodegradability
The following test methods for ready biodegradability shall be used:
(1) Until 1 December 2010 and during transition period from 1 December 2010 to 1 December 2015:
The test methods for ready biodegradability provided for in Directive 67/548/EEC, in particular the methods detailed in Annex V.C4 to that Directive, or their equivalent OECD 301 A-F test methods, or their equivalent ISO tests.
The 10 days window principle shall not apply for surfactants. The pass levels shall be 70 % for the tests referred to in Annex V.C4-A and C4-B to Directive 67/548/EEC (and their equivalent OECD 301 A and E tests and ISO equivalents), and shall be 60 % for tests C4-C, D, E and F (and their equivalent OECD 301 B, C, D and F tests and ISO equivalents).
(2) After 1 December 2015 and during transition period from 1 December 2010 to 1 December 2015:
The test methods provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008.
Documentation of anaerobic biodegradability
The reference test for anaerobic degradability shall be EN ISO 11734, ECETOC No 28 (June 1988), OECD 311 or an equivalent test method, with the requirement of 60 % ultimate degradability under anaerobic conditions. Test methods simulating the conditions in a relevant anaerobic environment may also be used to document that 60 % ultimate degradability has been attained under anaerobic conditions.
Extrapolation for substances not listed in the DID-list
Where the ingredients that are not listed in the DID-list the following approach may be used to provide the necessary documentation of anaerobic biodegradability:
(1) Apply reasonable extrapolation. Use test results obtained with one raw material to extrapolate the ultimate anaerobic degradability of structurally related surfactants. Where anaerobic biodegradability has been confirmed for a surfactant (or a group of homologues) according to the DID-list, it can be assumed that a similar type of surfactant is also anaerobically biodegradable (e.g. C12-15 A 1-3 EO sulphate [DID No 8] is anaerobically biodegradable, and a similar anaerobic biodegradability may also be assumed for C12-15 A 6 EO sulphate). Where anaerobic biodegradability has been confirmed for a surfactant by use of an appropriate test method, it can be assumed that a similar type of surfactant is also anaerobically biodegradable (e.g. literature data confirming the anaerobic biodegradability of surfactants belonging to the group alkyl ester ammonium salts may be used as documentation for a similar anaerobic biodegradability of other quaternary ammonium salts containing ester-linkages in the alkyl chain(s)).
(2) Perform screening test for anaerobic degradability. If new testing is necessary, perform a screening test by use of EN ISO 11734, ECETOC No 28 (June 1988), OECD 311 or an equivalent method.
(3) Perform low-dosage degradability test. If new testing is necessary, and in the case of experimental problems in the screening test (e.g. inhibition due to toxicity of test substance), repeat testing by using a low dosage of surfactant and monitor degradation by 14C measurements or chemical analyses. Testing at low dosages may be performed by use of OECD 308 (August 2000) or an equivalent method.