Every third consumer product contains substances of very high concern (SVHCs). That’s the finding of a study undertaken as part of an EU project, LIFE AskREACH. The German Federal Environmental Agency also participated in the study and published the results at the beginning of September. Overall, some 106 leisure, garden,…
The European Commission has announced a fast-track implementation of its new CLP hazard classes. Thanks to the fast-track interservice consultation (ISC), the EU Commission can approve the delegated legislation before the end of the year. In total, the EU suggests five new hazard classes: Endocrine disruptors (ED) Persistent, bioaccumulative, and…
At the end of August, the European Commission published its Draft on the Restriction of Microplastics on its Web site. The regulation applies to the smallest particles of plastics that are often used in cleaners and personal care products because of their abrasive effects. With the regulation, the EU hopes…
In a letter to the EU, industry groups warn against hastily classifying lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, and lithium chloride as reprotoxic. Yet that is precisely the recommendation of the ECHA Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) of the EU Commission, whose expert groups are now studying the proposal. The authors of the…
At the end of July, the South Korean Ministry of Environment (MoE) published the criteria (in Korean), that determine whether or not a chemical is a permitted substance. The criteria apply as of October 15 of this year. Companies that wish to manufacture, import, or use such chemicals that are…
The Taiwanese Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants to align the labeling requirements for toxic chemicals and chemicals of concern with the EU’s CLP regulation. Taiwan is simultaneously harmonizing the EPA regulations with those of the Ministry of Labor. Right now, the requirements differ. The EPA has initiated a consultation on…
When a company reduces the production volume of a chemical and updates the dossier accordingly, the ECHA will consider the reduction when evaluating the registration dossier. However, the company involved must present proof indicating the amount of the chemical that was imported or manufactured the previous year. The ECHA clarified…
The European Commission has started an initiative that should simplify access to chemicals data and opened a consultation with stakeholders to submit their reactions by August 16. In fact, access to chemicals data that comes from governmental agencies, private institutions, or scientific literature is difficult. Furthermore, the exchange and reuse…
School supplies have been shown to contain veritable cocktails of hazardous substances. That’s the finding of an expert’s report (in French) published at the start of July by the French Agency for Food, Environmental, and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES). For example, the scientists found PFAS, BPA, heavy metals, phthalates,…
The British Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) plans to extend registration deadlines and has started a consultation that runs until September 1. The DEFRA is calling for the following new transition deadlines: October 2026 (previously October 28, 2021–October 28, 2023): For substances that were included on the…
