Chemicals | Monthly bulletin | September 2019
Lack of supply chain communication on SVHCs in articles
On 1st September 2017, the Project LIFE AskREACH - Enabling REACH consumer information rights on chemicals in articles by IT-tools began.
It is a project with the aim to increase the demand for articles free from SVHCs (Substances of Very High Concern) through the right of consumers to be informed on the composition of articles. It would consist in an app where consumers can consult which articles contain SVHCs.
At its meeting in March 2019, the launch of the AskREACH app was indicated for October 2019.
In July 2019, the following report was published:
Awareness and communication on SVHCs in articles: Surveys of consumers and article suppliers
This report indicates the result to the EU project survey done to 14,000 citizens and to more than 180 article’s suppliers.
The aim is to know the consumers’ current awareness related to substances in articles and to get to know companies’ current situation in terms of awareness and implementation.
The results show that half of the companies do not have ready information to respond to consumer requests about substances of very high concern (SVHCs) and consequently, lack of supply chain communications on SVHCs in articles.
On 15th July 2019, A.I.S.E. (International Association for Soaps, detergents and Maintenance Products) published its opinion about the European Commission’s review of the Detergents Regulation which identifies opportunities to improve hazard communication to consumers including communication through digital means.
For getting the A.I.S.E.'s public statement click here.
Below a summary table with recent regulation proposal notified to European Commission (Non-exhaustive):
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Notification number |
Countries |
Title |
|
Ireland |
Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019
The purpose of the Bill is to prohibit the manufacture, placing on the market for sale (or gratis), supply, import or export of detergents, household and industrial cleaning products, abrasive scouring agents, and rinse-off cosmetic products, that contain intentionally added plastic microbeads. The Bill also prohibits the disposal of substances containing plastic microbeads down the drain or directly into freshwater or marine environments. The Bill will make breaches of these prohibitions an offence |
New Drafts Amendments for RoHS
On 8th August 2019, the European Commission published the following amendments to Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS) as below, regarding exemptions for bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and lead:
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Reference |
Title |
|
|
COMMISSION DELEGATED DIRECTIVE (EU) .../… amending, for the purposes of adapting to scientific and technical progress, Annex III to Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards an exemption for bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in certain rubber components used in engine systems |
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COMMISSION DELEGATED DIRECTIVE (EU) .../… amending, for the purposes of adapting to scientific and technical progress, Annex III to Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards an exemption for lead in solders used in certain combustion engines |
On the other hand, recently, the European Commission published the following notifications to World Trade Organization about RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU (non-exhaustive):
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Notification number / Link |
Title |
|
Draft Commission Delegated Directive amending, for the purposes of adapting to scientific and technical progress, Annex III to Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards an exemption for hexavalent chromium as an anticorrosion agent of the carbon steel cooling system in absorption refrigerators |
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Draft Commission Delegated Directive amending, for the purposes of adapting to scientific and technical progress, Annex IV to Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards an exemption for the use of cadmium in certain radiation tolerant video camera tubes |
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Draft Commission Delegated Directive amending, for the purposes of adapting to scientific and technical progress, Annex IV to Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards an exemption for lead in platinized platinum electrodes used for certain conductivity measurements |
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Draft Commission Delegated Directive amending, for the purposes of adapting to scientific and technical progress, Annex III to Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards an exemption for lead in solders and termination finishes used in certain hand-held combustion engines |
Additional Recent Updates Regarding REACH
Below table includes a summary of the main recent updates (non-exhaustive) regarding REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006:
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Summary of main recent updates |
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|
Date |
Subject |
Link |
|
12-07-2019 |
Notification to World Trade Organization:
Draft Commission Regulation amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as regards lead and its compounds |
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|
12-07-2019 |
Publication in the Official Journal of the European Union:
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2019/1194 of 5 July 2019 on the identification of 4-tert-butylphenol (PTBP) as a substance of very high concern pursuant to Article 57(f) of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council |
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16-07-2019 |
The European Commission requested to ECHA a restriction proposal on the placing on the market and use of lead in ammunition (gunshot and bullets) and of lead in fishing tackle conforming to the requirements of Annex XV to REACH |
The official request here |
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17-07-2019 |
Publication of the following guideline:
How to comply with REACH Restriction 71, guideline for users of NMP (1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone) |
Click here for getting the ECHA’s Guideline. |
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17-07-2019 |
Restriction proposals:
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Registry of restriction intentions until outcome here |
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25-07-2019 |
Update regarding Restriction proposal for intentionally added microplastics in the EU |
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31-07-2019 |
Final draft publication:
COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) …/… 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) |
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21-08-2019 |
New SVHC intentions for:
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Registry of SVHC intentions until outcome here |
Below table includes a summary of the main recent updates (non-exhaustive) regarding CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008:
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Summary of main recent updates |
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|
Date |
Subject |
Link |
|
19-07-2019 |
Notification to World Trade Organization:
Draft Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) amending Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures as regards information relating to emergency health response |
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|
22-07-2019 |
Publication of the new version of:
“Guidance on harmonised information relating to health emergency response - Annex VIII to CLP“ |
Click here for getting the new version of guideline |
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24-07-2019 |
Harmonised classification and labelling proposals for:
The deadline for comments is 24 September 2019 |
Harmonised classification and labelling public consultations here |
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24-07-2019 |
New proposals to harmonise classification and labelling:
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Registry of CLH intentions until outcome here |
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31-7-2019 |
A public consultation about postponing the compliance date to submit information on hazardous chemical mixtures for consumer use was launched
The draft regulation proposes to postpone the first compliance date from 1 January 2020 to 1 January 2021 |
More information about public consultation here |
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07-08-2019 |
Publication of Guidance on information requirements and chemical safety assessment
Appendix to Chapter R.8: Guidance for preparing a scientific report for health-based exposure limits at the workplace (Version 1.0) |
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Reduction of consumers' exposure to PAHs
On 9th August 2019, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) published an article about its work and recommendations to adapt the maximum levels for the GS certification mark to match the prevailing technical standards.
For more information click here in BfR’s website.
Less Toxic chemicals at home
On 16th July 2019, the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) published its report about toxic chemicals around us at home.
Some of the main points are chemical substances in food contact materials and chemical labelling in consumer products within others.
EAC recommends that manufactures and importers are more transparent about the chemicals used and recommends UK Government to ban the use of some chemicals in food contact materials.
Proposal of PBT Chemicals under Toxic Substances Control Act
The US EPA recently published a proposed regulation regarding Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic (PBT) Chemicals pursuant to Section 6(h) of the Toxic Substances Control Act.
This proposal bans the manufacture, processing, and distribution in commerce for many uses of four of these five chemicals including DecaBDE, PIP (3:1), 2,4,6-TTBP, HCBD and PCTP.
The use of HBCD has been evaluated and no regulatory action is proposed while other four chemicals need to comply with recordkeeping requirements and PCTP or PIP (3:1) need additional downstream notification requirements.
Comments are due on September 27, 2019.
Click here for more information.
Regulatory proposals notified to WTO
Below a summary table with some recent notifications to World Trade Organization (non-exhaustive):
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Notification number / Link |
Country |
Title |
|
Canada |
Proposed Volatile Organic Compound Concentration Limits for Certain Products Regulations
It would prohibit the import and manufacture of products that exceed prescribed volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration limits in approximately 130 product categories and subcategories |
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|
Canada |
Proposed Regulations Amending the Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations
The proposed Amendments aim to ensure the adequate supply of HCFC-123 for use as a fire-extinguishing agent in situations where an alternative may not be available for certain critical aircraft rescue and firefighting applications |
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|
US |
Significant New Use Rules on Certain Chemical Substances (19-3.B)
EPA is proposing significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 3 chemical substances which are the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs) |
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US |
Proposed Revocation of Significant New Use Rule for Fatty Acid Amide
EPA is proposing to revoke the significant new use rule (SNUR) promulgated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for a chemical substance which was identified generically as fatty acid amide which was the subject of premanufacture notice (PMN) P-13-267 |
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US |
Significant New Use Rules on Certain Chemical Substances (19-1.F)
EPA is proposing significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 31 chemical substances, 30 of which were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs) and 1 (a microorganism) that was the subject of a Microbial Commercial Activity Notice (MCAN) |
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US |
Significant New Use Rules on Certain Chemical Substances (19-2.F)
EPA is proposing significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 31 chemical substances which were the subject of premanufacture notices. 7 of these chemical substances are subject to Orders issued by EPA pursuant to TSCA section 5(e) |
