Archive

Broad use of alternatives for chemical safety assessment

Adaptations continue to be used more than experimental studies, with read-across being the most frequent option. In vitro non-animal test methods have seen a significant uptake in recent years   The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published its fifth report on the use of alternatives to testing...

ECHA adds nine hazardous chemicals to Candidate List

The Candidate List of substances of very high concern now contains 233 entries for chemicals that can harm people or the environment. Companies are responsible for managing the risks of these chemicals and must also give their customers and consumers information to use them safely.  ECHA...

ECHA receives PFASs restriction proposal from five national authorities

The national authorities of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have submitted a proposal to ECHA to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) under REACH, the European Union’s (EU) chemicals regulation. ECHA will publish the detailed proposal, one of the broadest in the EU’s...

Reported trade of hazardous chemicals increased following Brexit

The reported volume of chemicals exported from and imported to the European Union (EU) under the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Regulation, significantly increased in 2021 due in large part to the United Kingdom’s withdrawal. ECHA’s latest annual report on the trade of certain hazardous chemicals that...

One in four substances recovered from waste non-compliant with REACH

Results from a Forum pilot enforcement project on substances recovered from waste reveal that 26 % of checked substances are in breach of REACH. Inspectors checked 46 cases to find out if substances recovered from waste met the conditions for exemption from REACH registration. Firstly, they examined...

Next EU-wide REACH enforcement project to focus on imported products

The Enforcement Forum of ECHA agreed that the next REACH enforcement project will investigate how companies fulfil the registration, authorisation and restriction obligations for products and chemicals they import from outside the EU. The project will be done in 2023-2025 and will require close cooperation...

QSAR Toolbox extension broadens possibilities for animal-free chemicals assessment

The new add-on helps users to predict chemical properties, including endocrine activity, while avoiding testing on animals. The OPERA extension contains models for predicting properties that are important for assessing chemical hazards. The extension can be used to screen chemical databases to identify substances that may...

PFAS ban proposal delayed

[vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text]The European REACH restriction proposal to ban poly- and perfluorinated alkyl subsances (PFAS), which could include HFC and HFO refrigerants, has been delayed for six months to allow time to assess the applications. The restriction proposal, which could have major consequences...

Glyphosate: no change proposed to hazard classification

[vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text]CHA's Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) agrees to keep glyphosate’s current classification as causing serious eye damage and being toxic to aquatic life. Based on a wide-ranging review of scientific evidence, the committee again concludes that classifying glyphosate as a...

Only representatives must declare their non-EU manufacturers

[vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text]Only representatives must identify the non-EU manufacturers they represent and provide their contact information by 14 October 2022. Only representatives of a non-EU manufacturer will be asked to identify the non-EU manufacturer they represent, including their contact information in REACH-IT, from...

Five substances added to REACH Authorisation List

[vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text]Companies that want to continue using these substances after the agreed sunset dates will need to apply for authorisation. The Authorisation List now contains 59 entries. ECHA identified the five substances as substances of very high concern due to their reprotoxic,...

Biocides: Guidance on human health information requirements updated

[vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text]The ECHA has published an update to the guidance document for the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) Volume III – Human Health - Information Requirements (Part A). The update aligns the guidance with the new information requirements of the BPR (Annexes...

QSAR Toolbox updated

[vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text]The web client of the QSAR Toolbox has been updated, simplifying its use. The new functionalities include the possibility to run QSAR models or access the details of study results.   The OECD QSAR Toolbox is a freely available software for animal-free...

Commission decisions on applications for authorisation

[vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text]The European Commission has granted 19 authorisations for uses of the following substances (review period expiry dates are in brackets): 4-(1,1,3,3-Tetra methylbutyl)phenol, ethoxylated (4-tert-OPnEO) (EC -, CAS -) 5 uses applied for by Octapharma AB and 4 other co-applicants (4 January...