ECHA Weekly - 7 February 2024

REACH

ECHA consults on recommending five substances for REACH authorisation

We are considering recommending the following substances for the REACH Authorisation List:

• Melamine;
• Bis(2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate covering any of the individual isomers and/or combinations thereof (TBPH);
• S-(tricyclo[5.2.1.0 2,6]deca-3-en-8(or 9)-yl) O-(isopropyl or isobutyl or 2-ethylhexyl) O-(isopropyl or isobutyl or 2-ethylhexyl) phosphorodithioate;
• Diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide; and
• Barium diboron tetraoxide.

We also invite comments regarding the implications of adding a new hazard to dibutyl phthalate (DBP) which is already on the Authorisation List.

Have your say until 7 May 2024.

Call for evidence: investigation report on aromatic brominated flame retardants

We are looking for information on aromatic brominated flame retardants related to:

• uses; 
• releases;
• end-of-life information; and
• availability of analytical methods.

This information will be used for the investigation report that the European Commission has asked us to prepare.

Have your say until 5 April 2024.

Biocides

Want to keep using TMAD in product-type 12?

Companies have withdrawn their interest in getting Tetrahydro-1,3,4,6-tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)imidazo[4,5-d]imidazole-2,5 (1H,3H)-dione (TMAD) approved in the biocides Review Programme for use in slimicides (product-type 12).

Notify us until 31 January 2025 to keep this substance in the Review Programme.

ECHA

Contractors start their work on alternatives to animal studies

A consortium, contracted by ECHA, has started its work to conduct scientific studies on the reliability and relevance of new approach methodologies (NAMs) as alternatives to animal studies.

The aim of this project is to get more NAMs accepted for regulatory purposes and so reduce the number of animal studies conducted for safety assessments of chemicals in the future.

IT-tools

New version of IUCLID now available

This release is particularly relevant for users preparing SCIP dossiers, Poison Centre submissions and CLP notifications. It contains fixes and improvements, such as:

• the updated Candidate List of substances of very high concern for SCIP submissions;
• the improved report generator for all users; and
• the latest updates relevant to the preparation of Summaries of Product Characteristics (SPC) under the Biocidal Products Regulation

Open positions

Scientific Officer, New Approach Methodologies (NAMs)

We are looking for enthusiastic Scientific Officers who have knowledge and professional experience in toxicokinetics, hazard assessment and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs).

Apply until 1 March 2024 if you are interested in contributing to the development of methodologies which would allow to minimise and ultimately eliminate the need for animal toxicity testing in the EU.

EU Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON)

Tender notices for nanomaterial studies

We plan to launch call for tenders for following studies:

• Survey on state of the art of carbon-based nanomaterial detection and quantification in environmental and biological matrices – express interest by 7 February 2024; and
   
• Information on nano-enabled textiles – express interest by 16 February 2024.