Upcoming ePIC update – important change for companies notifying exports of mixtures

A new version of the tool used for submitting export and import notifications under the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Regulation, ePIC, will go live in early October. It will include a change for companies notifying mixtures which contain a substance included in an Annex I group entry. An example of such a mixture would be one containing the substance cadmium chloride (EC 233-296-7), which belongs to the "Cadmium and its compounds" group in Annex I.

To submit notifications for these mixtures, the updated ePIC requires that the company provides a CAS or EC number of the actual substance used in the mixture instead of just referring to the generic group entry. This will help to clearly identify the substance already in the notification (and not only in the safety data sheet), ensure faster decision making for the importing country as well as simplify Article 10 reporting for companies as ePIC will automatically prefill the substance information.

To keep all notifications clear and consistent, ECHA asks companies planning to submit 2016 export notifications for these mixtures to do so only after go-live of the new version of ePIC (release 1.3).

ePIC | PIC Regulation | Annex I chemicals

Authorisation decisions published

The European Commission has granted authorisations for uses of diarsenic trioxide (EC 215-481-4) to the following companies:

• Boliden Kokkola Oy and Nordenhamer Zinkhütte GmbH with a review period of the authorisation until 21 May 2027, and
• Linxens France with a review period of the authorisation until 21 May 2022.

Adopted opinions

Registry of Intentions updated

Harmonised classification and labelling

Three new intentions for harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) were added to the Registry of Intentions for the substances:

• thifensulfuron-methyl (ISO) (CAS 79277-27-3), dossier intended by the UK;
• asulam-sodium (ISO) (EC 218-953-8), dossier intended by the UK,
• tris(2-ethylhexyl) 4,4',4''-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyltriimino)tribenzoate (EC 402-070-1), dossier intended by Germany.

Current CLH intentions

ECHA website user research kicking off - have your say!

As part of the research, we are launching an online usability test. It aims to find out how you find the information on our website. After the test, you will have the possibility to leave your email address to take part in further testing.

This online test will take around 15 minutes to complete.

Help us make the website more user friendly for you. You can participate by clicking the link below.

ECHA website user study

News readership survey launched

Earlier this week, we sent you an invite to our annual news readership survey asking for your views and feedback on our e-News and Newsletter. This will be the last survey we send you about our news products until 2017, so this is your perfect opportunity to tell us what you think and to help us improve our news services.

Each of you have received an individual email to your inbox with a link to the survey. However, if you are a news subscriber and have not yet received the link, please let us know at: surveys@echa.europa.eu.

The survey will stay open until 28 September 2015.

Board of Appeal

Subscribe to the Board of Appeal's RSS feed

If you want to keep up with latest developments in the Board of Appeal, you can now subscribe to its RSS feed.

Subscribe to the BoA RSS feed

ECHA webinar: Why opt for substitution?

22 September 2015, 11:00 – 12:30, Helsinki (EEST, GMT +3)

The webinar includes a case study from COOP Denmark, one of the largest Danish retailers, who will explain how they have used substitution in their own products and packaging. Dr Karla Pfaff from the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) will present their role in monitoring a voluntary agreement made by the entire value chain for plasticisers used for certain types of adhesive packaging in Germany. The webinar will conclude with Dr Joel Tickner from the University of Massachusetts Lowell who will present the US approach to substitution and share some practical advice for companies planning to substitute.

This webinar series gives practical information and examples for companies planning to opt for substitution and gives them the unique opportunity to ask questions from other companies and authorities that are directly involved in the substitution process.

Webinar page | Agenda | Register

ECHA webinar: Downstream user update

21 October 2015, 11:00 - 12:30, Helsinki (EEST, GMT +3)

The webinar aims to update downstream users on recent activities that will help them use chemicals safely and fulfil their duties under REACH. The topics will include how downstream users can benefit from the latest work done to improve the information in the supply chain, how to prepare a downstream user chemical safety report and how to notify ECHA on authorised uses.

Webinar page | Agenda | Register

Biocides Stakeholders' Day – recordings available

Around 200 people joined us on 1 September from more than 23 countries here in Helsinki to learn more about the EU biocidal products legislation. The programme featured the latest news from ECHA and the European Commission and experiences from European industry, two years after the entry into operation of the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR).

Video recordings of the event are now available and you can access them from the event page.

If you joined the event either in person or by web-stream, take the time to share your feedback with us so that we can further improve the content of our events to meet your needs. The feedback questionnaire will be open until Friday 11 September.

Event page | Give us feedback | Programme | List of speakers

Workshop on 'Streamlining applications for authorisation'

17 November 2015, Brussels

The European Commission and ECHA are organising a workshop to further improve the functioning of the application for authorisation process. The workshop will focus on two aspects: how to make 'fit-for-purpose' applications in general and how to fulfil the information requirements for 'upstream' applications.

It is a follow-up to the 'Lessons Learned' conference on applications for authorisation, held in Helsinki on 10-11 February 2015.

Event page | Register

Topical Scientific Workshop on New Approach Methodologies in Regulatory Science

19-20 April 2016, Helsinki

This workshop will explore the potential regulatory benefits arising from fundamental change in scientific thinking to try to better understand the underlying biology behind how chemicals cause adverse effects to human health. The workshop will also look at new tools and techniques that provide a huge amount of data that can be used in solving regulatory issues.

Participation in the workshop is by invitation only. If you would like to participate, you are invited to complete the expressions of interest form by 20 September 2015. Official invitations are expected to be sent in November 2015. For further information, you can contact: scientificevents@echa.europa.eu.

Event page | Expressions of interest