The Photoinitiators Platform is an industry group dedicated to serve the common interests of manufacturers, suppliers and end-users of photoinitiators.

Key industry stakeholders, including BCH, IGM, Miwon and RAHN, came together to form the Photoinitiators Platform – the PIP – a global industry group dedicated to serving the common interests of manufacturers, suppliers, formulators and end-users of photoinitiators. Members now include: Schmid Rhyner, Canon, hubergroup, Jiurichem, UV-Chemkeys, Allnex, Domino, Arkema, and Siegwerk. The primary purpose of the association is to represent the industry in discussions with governments, agencies and other stakeholders in the framework of regulation and policy-making affecting Photoinitiators worldwide.

The primary purpose of the Association will be to represent the industry in discussions with governments, agencies and other stakeholders in the framework of regulation and policy-making affecting photoinitiators worldwide.

Examples include:

  • European REACH and other, third-country, chemical registration regimes
  • Regulations and initiatives affecting materials for sensitive applications
  • Tariffs

The Association will carry out or commission scientific research where required.

The initial focus of the Association will be to develop and strengthen a network and form relations primarily with the European Institutions and Regulatory Agencies and other strategic partners and stakeholders, argue the case for continued use of photoinitiators, as well as promote safe use of these substances. The PIP is keen to collaborate with other associations in the photoinitiators industry.

It is intended to communicate and exchange information with the broader ultraviolet (UV) community and with end-users, in preference through their respective representative bodies.

The Association has elected Michael Kiehnel of BCH, located in Germany, as Chair, and Martine van der Ent of IGM, who is based in Germany, as Vice-Chair.

Task forces

The Photoinitiators Platform covers over 80 substances. These 80 substances cover a wide range of chemistries. In addition, the group needs to consider different downstream uses, applications, and modes of usage. Consequently, task forces have been set up to enable the membership to focus on these different aspects of Photoinitiator applications.

Some task forces, such as the phosphine oxide task force, are looking at substance groups. The substance groups are being looked at to determine if ECHA either has or is likely to view the substances in a group for the purpose of evaluation/authorisation, and if so, whether the Photoinitiators Platform would agree that the chemistry supports such a grouping. The Photoinitiators Platform intends to engage with ECHA on these topics and has already communicated to this effect. An additional task force has been set up in collaboration with EuPIA to look at photolytes (the decomposition products arising from normal use of Photoinitiators).

The PIP is now running taskforces for the following Photoinitiator chemistries and applications-

  • Alpha Amino Ketones
  • Acyl Phosphine Oxides
  • Photolytes
  • Alpha Hydroxy Ketones
  • Benzophenones
  • Thioxanthones
  • Polymers
  • Food Contact Materials

In the phosphine oxides, alpha amino ketones, and alpha hydroxy ketones taskforces we have removed cross-reference (“read-across”) in the EU REACH registration dossiers to other substances where that might result in unjustified attention from regulatory authorities because of the hazards of the related substances. Similarly, we have removed inappropriate downstream uses from dossiers where this would potentially result in unnecessary attention from regulatory authorities, as this might lead the regulators to believe that the substances were being used in applications and downstream uses that are not supported by the manufacturers, are not suitable for the substances in question and which are not in practice actually used.

Polymers are moving– in Europe particularly – away from essentially an unregulated registration process to a more regulated one and the PIP is now looking at possible implications of this. Polymers in Europe have been regulated on the basis of their monomers, whereas in other jurisdictions they may have been regulated as polymers, this has become complicated due to the different polymer definitions in different jurisdictions across the globe. However, what is clear is that the regulatory controls on polymers are increasing and the taskforce has been formed to look into the impact of that on Photoinitiators.

The PIP is an ECHA accredited stakeholder and also a member of a regulatory sandbox with the BfR in cooperation with the VdL to help establish the next ink ordinance which might set a new global standard, especially for Photolytes. We are also looking into Photolytes from a technical perspective and have a joint task force with EUPIA to better understand and evaluate them.

Membership

The Association is open to all actors in the supply chain, with Associate membership being reserved for downstream users.

Full Membership

Full members must be a legal entity that manufactures, sells or distributes photoinitiators.

Associate Membership

Associate members may be legal entities that place on the market or use photoinitiators within a composite substance or product intended for final-users.

Associate members may participate fully in the General Assembly and the Board.  Their participation in committees or task forces will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

The admission of members will be decided by the Board of Directors

Full Members

Membership talks are ongoing with other interested parties

Associate Members