The health and safety of our customers are important to us! That is why Lovibond® has reacted promptly to the current new hazard classification of potassium iodide. We have developed alternative formulations for DPD No.3 and DPD No.4 tablets so that these products can continue to remain GHS label-free. Of course, reliable analysis results are also guaranteed with these new products. They are fully compatible with the existing, classic DPD No.3 and DPD No.4 tablets and can replace them in all applications with the same functions and results. For better recognition of these new, label-free tablets, these products bear the name addition Evo.
These new Evo products for pool water analysis may also be supplied to private users and customers in the future as usual. For all classic DPD No.3 and DPD No.4 formulations, on the other hand, the new labelling will have a considerable impact on the sales process in future. Products with a potassium iodide content of 1 % or more must bear explicit warnings and be packed in Braille packaging within the EU in order to be sold to private consumers. In Germany, products with the new labelling with a potassium iodide content of 10 % or more are also subject to the Chemicals Prohibition Ordinance, which considerably restricts the future sale of such products to private consumers.
Well founded scientific research has led to all manufacturers of potassium iodide now reclassifying it as damages the thyroid gland “by prolonged and repeated exposure (ingestion)”. They are thus following the corresponding guidelines of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). This means that these restrictions on the sale of products containing potassium iodide in a certain concentration to private individuals will become valid market-wide as soon as any remaining stocks are used up.
Potassium iodide is commonly used for the production of DPD No.3 and DPD No.4 reagent tablets in concentrations well above 1 %, almost always even more than 10 %. The tablets are mainly used in pools and swimming pools for the detection of total chlorine and oxygen. With the help of the analysis results, hygiene and care products can be dosed correctly. The high potassium iodide content of DPD No.3 and DPD No.4 reagents has its origin in standardised analytical procedures for chlorine determination, which are used, for example, in public swimming pools and for drinking water testing. Chlorine measurement in the private sector and in many other applications, on the other hand, is not bound to exact compliance with the standardised analytical procedures. In addition, when using the new Evo tablets, equivalent measurement results are obtained to those measured according to standard procedures.
DPD tablets with a potassium iodide content of 10 % or more must not only be labelled with hazard pictograms and warnings. The ECHA classification STOT RE1, H372, which is now due, also has considerable consequences for the distribution of these products. In particular, their sale to private individuals is affected. In Germany, the Chemicals Prohibition Ordinance (ChemVerbotsV) applies here. This means for the sale of DPD No.3 and No.4 tablets with classical formulation to private users:
- Official permit required for sale
- Proof of expert knowledge required from the seller
- Duty to identify and advise on sale
- Documentation obligation in the form of a dispensing book by the seller
- Prohibition of dispatch of appropriately labelled products (thus no internet trade!)
- Sale to private individuals only in packaging that is marked with Braille and is child-resistant
For tablets containing potassium iodide from 1 % and less than 10 %, the classification STOT RE2, H373 applies according to the ECHA.
For products with a potassium iodide content of 1 % or more, the new classification will also apply in future within the EU for supply to private users:
- Labelling with Braille
Despite this new situation, our dealers and private users of our products can breathe a sigh of relief. Our new Evo tablets are not affected by this labelling obligation. They may be sold as usual and purchased via self-service in the trade. Retailers and customers gain security with the new Evo tablets from Lovibond® and also save effort, time and above all money.
You can find our new Evo products here.