Chemicals | Monthly bulletin | November 2019
Europe
18 Substances are proposed to enter in the REACH Authorisation list
On 1st October 2019, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published the press release ECHA/PR/19/14.
On 9th October 2019, the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) announced the development of risk profiles for the following substances:
- Methoxychlor (EC 200-779-9, CAS 72-43-5)
- Dechlorane Plus® (EC 236-948-9, CAS 13560-89-9)
Because they fulfil the screening criteria as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). With these risk profiles, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) will decide if these substances will be included in the list of persistent organic pollutants in the Stockholm Convention.
ECHA’s news here.
Studies proposals for nanomaterials
On 15th October 2019, the European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) published an article where indicates their search of topic suggestions for upcoming studies about nanomaterials.
The submissions are accepted by 15th January 2020.
More information here.
On 13th September 2019, the European Commission opened a public consultation about Hazardous substances in electrical/electronic equipment – evaluation of restrictions.
The aim is to compile views on how the restriction of hazardous substances in electronic products works in practice.
Currently, the RoHS Directive restricts the use of ten substances: lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), bis(2 ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP).
Click here for going to European public consultation.
Intention to restrict substances in disposable baby diapers submitted
On 9th October 2019, France submitted to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) the restriction intentions about disposable baby diapers containing chemical/chemical groups, such as PAHs, Formaldehyde, dioxins, furans, PCBs,...
For more information, please click here.
Recent Updates Regarding REACH
Below table includes a summary of the main recent updates (non-exhaustive) regarding REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006:
Summary of main recent updates |
||
Date |
Subject |
Link |
26-09-2019 |
Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/1390 of 31 July 2019 amending, for the purpose of its adaptation to technical progress, the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 440/2008 laying down test methods pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) |
The Eur-lex publication here |
25-09-2019 |
Public consultation launched:
|
Submitted restrictions under consideration here |
19-09-2019 |
Publication of study on EU regulatory framework for characterizing and identifying “next generation” nanomaterials:
A state of play study of the market for so called “next generation” nanomaterials by the European nanomaterials observatory for nanomaterials (EUON) |
Please click here for more information |
20-09-2019 |
The General Court confirms Bisphenol A (EC 201-245-8, CAS 80-05-7) as an endocrine disrupter to human health and the Applicant failed to demonstrate legal or scientific error by ECHA |
Judgment in case T-636/17 here |
20-09-2019 |
The General Court confirms 1-bromopropane (nPB) (EC 203-445-0, CAS 106-94-5) shall be included in the Autorisation list ( ECHA’s Annex XIV) |
Judgment in case T-610/17 here |
02-10-2019 |
Submission of lead chromates restriction report postponed |
Registry of restriction intentions until outcome here |
03-10-2019 |
Call for evidence on possible restriction of lead in shot, bullets and fishing tackle until 16th December 2019 |
Current calls for comments and evidence here |
Below table includes a summary of the main recent updates (non-exhaustive) regarding CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008:
Recent publications by European Commission
Below you will find a recent publication of the Official Journal of the European Union related to Chemicals:
Date |
Reference |
Title |
11-10-2019 |
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1701 of 23 July 2019 amending Annexes I and V to Regulation (EU) No 649/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the export and import of hazardous chemicals |
Regulatory proposals notified to European Commission
Below a summary table with some recent notifications to European Commission (non-exhaustive):
Country |
Notification number / Link |
Title |
France |
Decree adapting the Public Health Code to European Union law concerning the placing on the market of chemicals |
New substances listed under California Proposition 65
On 13th September 2019, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) added six substances to the list of chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer for purposes of Proposition 65.
The substances are:
Chemical name |
CAS number |
2-amino-4-chlorophenol, and |
95-85-2 |
2‑chloronitrobenzene |
88-73-3 |
1,4-dichloro-2-nitrobenzene |
89-61-2 |
2,4-dichloro-1-nitrobenzene) |
611-06-3 |
N,N-dimethylacetamide |
127-19-5 |
Para-nitroanisole |
100-17-4 |
The official publication in OEHHA can be found here.
California Passes Metal-Containing Jewelry Law Amendment
On 27th September 2019, California’s governor signed SB 647 into law which revises California’s Metal-Containing Jewelry law with following main changes:
- Adopting federal standards for lead content in children’s jewelry
- New definition of age limit for children’s jewelry to be similar (but not identical) to the Canadian Children’s Jewelry Regulations (SOR/2018-82)
- Establishing soluble cadmium for surface coatings on children’s jewelry
- Strengthening the lead content limit for certain materials to align with those under entry 63 to Annex XVII of REACH in the European Union
- The three categories of materials, Classes 1, 2 and 3 have been deleted and the specifications for body piercing jewelry remain unchanged
This amendment will become operative on 1st June 2020.
For more details please click here.
Regulatory proposals notified to WTO
Below a summary table with some recent notifications to World Trade Organization (non-exhaustive):
Notification number / Link |
Country |
Title |
US |
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Miscellaneous Coating Manufacturing Residual Risk and Technology Review
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing the results of a residual risk and technology review (RTR) of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Miscellaneous Coating Manufacturing (MCM NESHAP) facilities, as required by the Clean Air Act (CAA) |
|
US |
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Plywood and Composite Wood Products Residual Risk and Technology Review
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing amendments to the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Plywood and Composite Wood Products (PCWP) to address the results of the residual risk and technology review (RTR) that the EPA is required to conduct under the Clean Air Act (CAA) |
|
US |
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Cellulose Products Manufacturing Residual Risk and Technology Review
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing amendments to the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Cellulose Products Manufacturing to address the results of the residual risk and technology review (RTR) that the EPA is required to conduct under the Clean Air Act (CAA) |
|
US |
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Paper and Other Web Coating Residual Risk and Technology Review
Proposed rule - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is conducting the residual risk and technology review (RTR) of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for the Paper and Other Web Coating (POWC) source category that is required under the Clean Air Act (CAA) |
|
US |
Significant New Use Rules on Certain Chemical Substances (19-6.B)
EPA is proposing significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for seven chemical substances which are the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs) |