News

Candidate List update: Four new hazardous chemicals to be phased out

The additions include three substances that are toxic to reproduction and one endocrine disruptor. The Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHCs) now contains 209 substances that may have serious effects on people or the environment.

More | Candidate List

REACH

Consultation on SEAC's draft opinion on microplastics

Stakeholders are invited to comment on the draft opinion of the Committee for Socio-economic Analysis (SEAC) concerning ECHA's restriction proposal on intentionally added microplastics. Deadline for comments is 1 September 2020.

Give comments

Mutagenicity study: comet assay combined with micronucleus test

ECHA’s Member State Committee has clarified that it considers the combined comet assay (OECD TG 489) and micronucleus test (OECD TG 474) as one study. The committee agreed to request a combined study when:

concerns for both gene mutation and chromosomal aberration exist; and
no other in vivo genotoxicity data is available in the dossier.

The combination can help to reduce animal testing while providing useful information on the potential of substances to induce chromosomal aberration or gene mutation in vivo. This approach applies to compliance checks and testing proposal examinations under REACH annexes VIII, IX and X from today, 1 July 2020.

OECD test guidelines 489 | 474

New substance evaluation conclusions published

di-tert-pentyl peroxide (EC 234-042-8, CAS 10508-09-5), added to the CoRAP list in 2015 and evaluated by Italy; and
3-trimethoxysilylpropyl methacrylate (EC 219-785-8, CAS 2530-85-0), added to the CoRAP list in 2015 and evaluated by Ireland.

Community rolling action plan | Substance evaluation

Committees’ consolidated opinions available on applications for authorisation

The applications are for uses of:

4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol, ethoxylated (EC -, CAS -) by Vetter Pharma-Fertigung GmbH & Co. KG; and
4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol, ethoxylated (EC -, CAS -) by Novo Nordisk A/S.

Opinions

Enforcement Forum

EU inspectors to check consumer products for hazardous substances

The Enforcement Forum agreed that its major enforcement project planned for 2022 (REF-10) will focus on integrated checks of products that control several duties from different pieces of legislation – mostly related to articles, but also to mixtures. Most of the products are expected to be consumer products.

News

Supply chains

A vision for enhancing safety data sheets

A paper submitted for the June CARACAL meeting on extended safety data sheets is now available. The paper summarises the responses to four questions posed to the Member States in March 2020 and provides a vision for enhancing the safety data sheet system.

REACH Review Action 3 | Read the paper

REACH Annex II amended

The European Commission has published a regulation amending Annex II to REACH, which lays down the requirements for compiling safety data sheets, used to provide information on chemical substances and mixtures in the EU.

The changes align the annex with the sixth and seventh revisions of the United Nations' Globally Harmonised System. Most of the physicochemical properties section has been rewritten and information on the unique formula identifier, nanomaterials, and on endocrine-disrupting properties is now included. Requirements regarding specific concentration limits, multiplication factors, and acute toxicity estimates are also now specified.

Official Journal

Guest corner

Guest Corner: How does your country’s workplace safety and health measure up?

Did you ever wonder how your country is doing when it comes to workplace safety and health? With the new Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Barometer, you can find out about your country’s OSH authorities and other organisations involved in risk management, accident prevention and environmental health. Dr Lothar Lieck, Senior Project Manager at the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, explains how it works in our latest Guest Corner contribution.

Guest corner

Nanopinions

Polymer-based nanocomposites - enabling innovation, resource efficiency and helping to fight climate change

"The plastics industry in Europe is a vibrant sector that helps improve our quality of life by enabling innovation, facilitating resource efficiency and enhancing climate protection." Read the latest nanopinion guest column from Dr Sabine Lindner from PlasticsEurope who talks about the different benefits of plastics and how industry, researchers and regulators are ensuring their safe use in the EU.

Nanopinion

ECHA

RAC meeting in September – agenda available

The agenda of the upcoming meetings of the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) is online. RAC will meet virtually on 8-9 September and from 14 to 17 September 2020.

RAC agenda

Maintenance

IT tools maintenance break

Most of ECHA's production IT tools will be undergoing maintenance and unavailable from Friday 3 July 2020 at 16:00, until Monday 6 July 2020 at 9:00 (Helsinki time).

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