ECHA has published their latest weekly update (17 April).
Due to changes in the structure of ECHA’s updates, we can no longer provide a link to the updates themselves. To ensure BIVDA members continue to receive this information, we have opted to provide the full ECHA notification.
Enforcement authorities will check poison centre notifications
The transition towards safer and more sustainable chemicals is progressing in some areas, while in others, it is just beginning.
This is the finding of a first, joint Europe-wide assessment of the drivers and impact of chemical pollution by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
The benchmarking found that more work is still needed to reduce the impact of harmful substances on human health and the environment.
For more details, listen also to our Safer Chemicals Podcast with the Executive Directors Leena Ylä-Mononen (EEA) and Sharon McGuinness (ECHA).
REACH
Fertilizers Europe has updated their specific environmental release categories (SPERCs) and sector-specific worker exposure descriptions (SWEDs).
The following files are now available on our use maps library:
- Use maps (excel and Chesar format)
- SPERCs factsheets and background documents
- SWEDs overview (excel file)
The updated Chesar files are compatible with Chesar 3.6 and any of its newer versions.
Assessment of regulatory needs reports published
Reports for the following substance groups are now available on our website:
- Alicyclic ketones (other than with fused cycles only)
- Esters from linear and branched carboxylic acid and polyol ethers
- Esters from linear and branched carboxylic acids and glycerol
- Esters from linear and branched carboxylic acid and sugar alcohols
If you have questions or feedback related to the assessment work, you can send them to us using this webform.
PFAS restriction proposal: National authorities share how they are updating their assessment
Authorities from Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Sweden explain how they are using the information from the six-month consultation to update their initial restriction proposal. Our committees for Risk Assessment and for Socio-Economic Analysis form their opinions based on the updated report.
In March, ECHA outlined how its two scientific committees will progress in evaluating the proposal.
Testing proposals
We have launched 10 new consultations on testing proposals. Have your say until 27 May 2024.
CLP
New proposal to harmonise classification and labelling
A proposal has been submitted for:
- hydrogen peroxide solution…% (EC 231-765-0, CAS 7722-84-1).
ECHA
Call for tenders: support for managing risks of chemicals
We are looking for several contractors to support us in risk and impact assessment, socio-economic analysis and risk management work under REACH and other pieces of legislation.
Submit your tender until 3 June 2024.
We welcome new accredited stakeholders
We have two new accredited stakeholder organisations:
Open positions
Scientific Officer – Ecotoxicologist and Toxicologist
We are looking for scientific officers with expertise and experience in:
- Environmental sciences: knowledge on nanomaterials, assessing persistency, bioaccumulation, mobility and toxicity, endocrine disrupting properties of chemicals or conducting use and exposure assessment.
- Human health toxicology: knowledge on nanomaterials, assessing carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, mutagenicity, repeated-dose toxicity, endocrine disrupting properties of chemicals and risk assessment.
If you are also proactive and solution-oriented, communicate clearly, and can interpret and use scientific information in regulatory context, check the vacancy notice and apply until noon 15 May 2024.
EU Chemicals Legislation Finder (EUCLEF)
Start using EUCLEF
Are you a small business looking for information on how your chemicals are regulated across the EU? EUCLEF compiles information from more than 50 pieces of legislation so that you can find it all in one place – water quality, worker protection, pesticides, food contact materials, cosmetic products, toy safety and much more.
EUCLEF is part of our chemicals database. It comes with a free of charge helpdesk service to guide you and help you clarify your obligations.
Others
Commission initiative to restrict CMRs in childcare articles
To protect children from substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR), the European Commission has published its initiative to restrict them in childcare articles, such as products intended to help sleep, relaxation, hygiene or feeding of children. The Commission is expected to adopt the initiative during the last quarter of 2024.
ECHA prepared an investigation report in autumn 2023 to support this work.
EUON
Nanopinion: Balancing safety, sustainability, and innovation – calcium carbonate nanoparticles in biomedical applications
Read the latest Nanopinion by Dr Ester Carregal-Romero, Prof Jesús Ruiz-Cabello and Dr Susana Carregal-Romero. Find out about the benefits of safe and sustainable by design approach for nanomaterials and nano-enabled applications in the development of new biomedical systems.
