Producers of expanded polystyrene (EPS) participating in the hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) authorization consortium have submitted to the European Chemicals Agency an application for the continued use of HBCDD as a flame retardant until an alternative is available in commercial quantities.

The consortium members said they want to ensure that customers and end users have a "continued steady supply" of flame-retarded EPS for building insulation materials, but stressed that they are "committed to changing from HBCDD to an alternative as soon as possible within legal deadlines and satisfying technical approvals."

Flame retardant manufacturers have started commercial production of alternative materials and the first applications for use in insulation products are being made available in the EU during 2014. However, the EPS grouping said not all announced capacity is currently on stream, leading to concerns that sufficient volumes may not be in the market by the target date of August 2015.