Eurofins | Newsflash - January 2018 | Chemicals
Europe - Reach
7 New Substances and Update of Bisphenol A in the Candidate List of SVHC
On 15 Jan 2018, ECHA has added the following new substances in the Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) and updated the current entry for Bisphenol A (BPA).
The update for Bisphenol A consists in additionally identifying this substance as SVHC due to its endocrine disrupting properties which cause probable serious effects to the environment. The current entry for BPA has been updated accordingly and supplemented with these additional intrinsic properties.
The Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHCs) for authorisation now contains 181 substances.
Click here for getting the current Candidate List of SVHC.
Europe - Reach
Results of Enforcement Project to Control Annex XVII Selected Restrictions (REF-4)
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On 16th November 2017, it took place in Helsinki the 28th meeting of the Forum for enforcement. In this meeting, the preliminary results of its fourth major enforcement project (REF-4) were discussed, within others. The aim of this project was the control of compliance with the conditions set out for selected restrictions in Annex XVII to REACH. So far, the most non-compliance sources found were the presence of phthalates in toys, cadmium in brazing fillers and asbestos fibres in products. High concentrations of chromium VI in leather articles and cadmium in jewellery were also frequently detected.
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Europe - Reach
Recent Updates Regarding REACH
Below table includes a summary of the main recent updates (non-exhaustive) regarding REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006:
Europe - Reach
Flame Retardant Restriction Proposal (Call for evidence)
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In December 2017, ECHA published a call for comments and evidence on the flame retardants TCEP, TCPP and TDCP in flexible polyurethane (PUR) foams in childcare articles and residential furniture because of their potential risk for children. The information compiled will be used to develop a draft restriction proposal. The call is open until 8th February 2018.
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Europe - Reach
Restriction Proposal on Diisocyanates and Lead Stabilisers
On 8th December the ECHA published news regarding agreement on restriction proposals on Diisocyanates and on lead stabilisers in PVC articles by the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) and the Committee for Socio-economic Analysis (SEAC).
Both Committees agreed to restrict the use of Diisocyanates at the workplace, following a proposal by Germany and RAC supported the proposal by ECHA to restrict the use of lead stabilizers in PVC articles.
For more information please consult the following links:
- Annex to ECHA Alerts 8 December 2017
- Opinions of the RAC adopted under specific ECHA's Executive Director requests
Europe - Reach
PFHxS Submission of Notification of Substances in Articles
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7th January 2018 was the deadline for submitting substances in article notifications for perfluorohexane-1-sulfonic acid and its salts (PFHxS).
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Europe - CLP
Recent Updates Regarding CLP
Below table includes a summary of the main recent updates (non-exhaustive) regarding CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008:
Denmark
Danish Government Initiative to Eliminate Harmful Chemicals from Consumer Products and Food
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Last November, the Danish government published a new initiative to protect vulnerable population from harmful substances (e.g. endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)) in consumer products and food. This initiative will be extended through 2018-2021 A good part of the assigned funding will be focused on EDCs, as well as increasing control of chemicals in imported products. Click here for getting the agreement within the different Danish parties involved in this initiative (in Danish). |
Us
California Proposition 65 Reformulations (December, 2017)
California Proposition 65 is the ‘Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986’, which has been effective for almost 30 years. Due to the implement of California Proposition 65, more and more court cases are settled to reduce the exposure to carcinogenic and toxic for reproduction chemicals by reformulating consumer products containing such chemicals. Find below some recent settlement agreements:
Brazil
Proposal to Modify Maximum Limit of Lead in Paints and Similar Surface Coating Materials
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The National Chemical Safety Commission (CONASQ), coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment (CGQAR / DQAR / SRHQ), has been working towards the normative improvement and management of chemical substances in Brazil. CONASQ created a Working Group to discuss, among other attributions, the necessary reforms of the current law on lead in paints and similar surface coating materials (Law nº 11.762 / 2008), with discussions focused on reducing the limit currently in force and revising the list of exceptions. The Working Group on Lead in Paints has drafted a new law proposal that essentially reviews the actual lead concentration limit of 600 ppm to 90 ppm and that is under public consultation period until January 21, 2018 This Draft proposal can be found here (in Portuguese). |
