Fifth Action on Chemicals progress report produced

Highlights:

Involvement in many REACH initiatives in addition to core Action on Chemicals strategy activities in 2007

• • Investigations into FOCUS own brand products revealed that none were likely to be obligated under REACH legislation.
• • The risk assessment process was phased in for own brand garden chemicals, paints & woodcare and wallpapers
• • Progress against the Friends of the Earth Retailer Pledge was reviewed

REACH letter to suppliers

A letter concerning REACH was circulated to all suppliers as a reminder that REACH obligated chemicals must be pre-registered between June and November 2008.

Suppliers were reminded that:

• • companies not complying with REACH would also be in breach of FOCUS' Conditions of Business.
• • FOCUS expects all products offered to the business (branded and own-branded) to be REACH compliant.
• • All products supplied to FOCUS must be registered for the purposes our customers intend to use them.

FOCUS Chemicals Policy reviewed and revised

Click here to see a copy of the FOCUS Chemicals Policy.

Risk assessment process for own brand product categories

The risk assessment process was phased in for the following own brand product categories:

• • garden chemicals
• • paints and woodcare
• • wallpapers

Study of FOCUS substances and articles affected by REACH

FOCUS undertook a study to determine which of its own brand imported products might be affected by the REACH legislation.

This produced a short list of products and the relevant suppliers were contacted for more information. Further investigations revealed that no own brand imported products were likely to be obligated under REACH, but this situation will continue to be monitored.

REACH legislation

EU REACH legislation entered into force on 1st June 2007 and staggered timescales for the submission of chemicals data, from 1st June 2008 onwards, have been published.

REACH letter to suppliers

A letter concerning REACH was sent to all suppliers to highlight the fact that the new chemicals legislation would be entering into force on 1st June 2007 and to urge suppliers to check how the legislation would affect their companies.

Fourth Action on Chemicals progress report produced:

Highlights:

• • Chemicals information for own brand decorating products is now collected as routine.
• • Risk assessments have identified 13 high risk products and the relevant suppliers have been contacted to discuss mitigation of the chemicals of concern.

Phthalates legislation

From 17th January 2007, further restrictions on the use of phthalate plasticisers in toys came into effect throughout the EU.

REACH legislation

REACH legislation was finally approved by European Parliament on 18th December 2006, which clears the way for the regulatory regime to come into force in June 2007.

Letter to suppliers

All proprietary product suppliers were contacted and encouraged to reduce or eliminate the use of FOCUS chemicals of concern.

FOCUS Chemicals Policy circulated to all suppliers.

FOCUS publishes Chemicals Policy

Click here to see a copy of the FOCUS Chemicals Policy.

Third Action on Chemicals progress report produced:

Highlights:

• • FOCUS systems have been modified to allow the collection of "chemicals of concern" information.
• • Chemicals Questionnaires are now completed by suppliers of own brand decorating products. The risk assessment tool is used to determine whether the products are high, medium or low risk.

REACH legislation

The EU Member States achieved a political agreement on REACH, new chemicals legislation to ensure that all chemicals on the market will be risk-assessed for harm to human health and the environment over time. REACH stands for the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of CHemicals and plans to supersede approximately 40 pieces of chemicals legislation when it comes into force.

Second Action on Chemicals progress report produced:

Highlights:

• • The Focus Wickes chemicals of concern list has been reviewed and revised by an independent consultant.
• • A risk assessment tool has been developed to help prioritise DIY products as high, medium and low risk.
• • Updates on the chemicals action plans of 19 suppliers have been received.
• • 42 suppliers responded to a survey on the use of nonylphenol, octylphenol and their ethoxylates· A three-pronged approach to managing chemicals of concern in 2005 is planned:
  • • An Own Brand Products Plan to ensure that all own brand products have been reviewed by the end of 2006
  • • A Proprietary Brand Products Plan to ensure that by the end of 2005, all suppliers of proprietary products have been encouraged to mitigate the use of Focus Wickes chemicals of concern
  • • A Chemicals Ban Plan to ensure that certain Focus Wickes chemicals of concern in specified own brand products will have been banned by October 2005

Chromium VI and Nonylphenols and their ethoxylates banned

Chromium VI along with Nonylphenols and their ethoxylates in certain applications have been banned from January 2005.

The Focus and Wickes businesses are compliant with the legislation.

To meet the requirements, British Cement Association member companies will control the amount of soluble chromium (VI) in all bulk and bagged cements and their other cement-containing products/preparations, by the addition, where necessary, of small amounts of a reducing agent (such as ferrous sulphate).

Bagged cement, mortars, concretes and renders etc. will be stored in accordance with the manufacturers' recommendations and they will not offered for sale after the storage period declared on the bag.

Copper Chrome Arsenate (CCA) banned

On June 30th 2004, the sale and use of CCA was banned in the UK. The ban does not apply to CCA treated timber already in service before June 30th 2004 and some applications are exempt.

Focus Wickes successfully removed all CCA treated timber from the business before the ban came into effect. Suppliers are now using alternatives such as "Tanalith E" and "Osmose" to treat timber products supplied to Focus Wickes.

Friends of the Earth survey of high street retailers and risky chemicals released

Focus Wickes participated in the survey and came a credible 9th out of the 27 retailers surveyed. The survey stated that companies at the top of the league table (top 10) are clearly making an effort to identify and phase out chemicals highlighted by Friends of the Earth.

Insecticide banned

As part of the continuing EC review of existing active substances, one additional amateur product has been banned. The last day of sale of the product was 31st March 2004 and the last day of storage was 31st December 2004.

A check was made to ensure that the insecticide in question was removed from the business by the deadlines.

Voluntary proposal to reduce the risks from nonylphenol, octylphenol and their ethoxylates agreed

Focus Wickes is in favour of voluntary action to reduce exposure to these chemicals and has expressed its support to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Click here for more information on the Focus Wickes voluntary proposal.

First Action on Chemicals progress report produced:

Highlights:

• • A list of chemicals of concern has been compiled.
• • A chemicals use survey of all suppliers was carried out between April 2002 and June 2003 to gather information on "chemicals of concern" present in products or packaging supplied to Focus Wickes, or used in manufacturing·
• • The survey responses indicated that approximately 50% of our supply base was using one or more of these chemicals of concern.
• • 19 suppliers have chemicals action plans in place.

Pesticides banned

Following an EC review of existing active substances, the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) produced a list of 80 amateur products to be completely withdrawn from the market by 24th July 2003.

11 products were identified as being present in Focus Wickes and have been removed from stock.

Work started on the substitution of chemicals of concern

• • Suppliers prioritised for action
• • Top 19 prioritised suppliers approached by 30th June 2003

Friends of the Earth Retailer Pledge Signed

To mark the first year of 'Action on Chemicals', Focus Wickes signed the Friends of the Earth Retailer Pledge. The Pledge seeks a commitment from retailers to find out which products contain chemicals of concern, to set up a programme with the aim of phasing them out from own-brand products within 5 years and to report on progress on an annual basis. Focus Wickes believes that the Pledge is consistent with 'Action on Chemicals'. Click here for more information on the Friends of the Earth Retailer Pledge.

Focus Wickes publishes Environmental Policy Statement

Focus Wickes Corporate Environmental Policy Statement was released, which states a commitment to "Monitor chemicals present in, or used in the manufacture of, products or their packaging, and work towards reducing or replacing those that present a material risk to the environment or human health."

Click here to see the Corporate Environmental Policy Statement.