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[F1ANNEX IIIU.K. ULTIMATE BIODEGRADABILITY (MINERALISATION) TEST METHODS FOR SURFACTANTS IN DETERGENTS

A. The reference method for laboratory testing of surfactant ultimate biodegradability in this Regulation is based on the EN ISO standard 14593: 1999 (CO 2 headspace test). U.K.

Surfactants in detergents shall be considered as biodegradable if the level of biodegradability (mineralisation) measured according to one of the following tests(1) is at least 60 % within 28 days:

1.

EN ISO Standard 14593: 1999 — Water quality — Evaluation of ultimate aerobic biodegradability of organic compounds in aqueous medium — Method by analysis of inorganic carbon in sealed vessels (CO 2 headspace test). Pre-adaptation is not to be used. The 10-day window principle is not applied (reference method).

2.

[F2Council Regulation (EC) No 440/2008 laying down test methods pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) (“EU Regulation 440/2008”), Annex, Part C: Methods for the determination of ecotoxicity, Part 4 (CO2 (carbon dioxide) evolution test (method C.4-C)).]

3.

[F3EU Regulation 440/2008, Annex, Part C: Methods for the determination of ecotoxicity, Part 6 (closed bottle test (method C.4-E)).]

4.

[F4EU Regulation 440/2008, Annex, Part C: Methods for the determination of ecotoxicity, Part 5 (manometric respirometry test (method C.4-D)).]

5.

[F5EU Regulation 440/2008, Annex, Part C: Methods for the determination of ecotoxicity, Part 7 (M.I.T.I. test (method C.4-F)).]

6.

ISO 10708:1997 — Water quality — Evaluation in an aqueous medium of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of organic compounds — Determination of biochemical oxygen demand in a two-phase closed bottle test. Pre-adaptation is not to be used. The 10-day window principle is not applied.

B. Depending on the physical characteristics of the surfactant, one of the methods listed below may be used if appropriately justified (2) . It should be noted that the pass criterion of at least 70 % of these methods is to be considered as equivalent to the pass criterion of at least 60 % referred to in methods listed in point A. The adequacy of the choice of the methods listed below shall be decided on a case-by-case confirmation, in accordance with Article 5 of this Regulation. U.K.

1.

[F6EU Regulation 440/2008, Annex, Part C: Methods for the determination of ecotoxicity, Part 2 (DOC die-away test (method C.4-A)).]

2.

[F7EU Regulation 440/2008, Annex, Part C: Methods for the determination of ecotoxicity, Part 3 (modified OECD screening test (method C.4-B)).]

F8...]

(1)

[F1These tests are identified as the most suitable for surfactants.]

(2)

[F1The DOC methods could give results on the removal and not on the ultimate biodegradation. The manometric respirometry and the MITI and two-phase BOD methods would not be appropriate in some cases because the high initial test concentration could be inhibitory.]