Archives

March 18, 2024

ECHA Clarifies Next Steps for PFAS Restriction Proposal

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) issued a press release on March 13, 2024, to outline how the Scientific Committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) will progress in evaluating the proposal to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Europe. As reported in our February 13, 2023, memorandum, the national authorities of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden submitted a proposal to restrict more than 10,000 PFAS under the...
February 23, 2024

ECHA Begins Public Consultation on Recommending Authorization for Five SVHCs and Adding a New Hazard to DBP

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced on February 7, 2024, that it is considering recommending the following substances for the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Authorization List: ECHA states that it is looking for further information on the uses of these substances in scope of authorization, their possible exemptions from the authorization requirement, and on the structure and complexity of the supply chains. ECHA encourages REACH...
February 9, 2024

ECHA’s New Database for Chemicals Includes Information from all REACH Registrations

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced on January 30, 2024, the launch of ECHA CHEM, its “new solution for publishing information on chemicals.” According to ECHA, the first version of ECHA CHEM includes information from the more than 100,000 Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals regulation (REACH) registrations that companies have submitted to ECHA. On the support page for ECHA CHEM, ECHA notes that as it gradually transfers the data it makes publicly...
January 23, 2024

ECHA Adds Five Chemicals to Candidate List of SVHCs for Authorization

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced on January 23, 2024, that it added five chemicals to the Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHC) for authorization and updated the existing entry for dibutyl phthalate to include its endocrine-disrupting properties for the environment: Substance Name Reason for Inclusion Examples of Uses 2,4,6-Tri-tert-butylphenol Toxic for reproduction (Article 57(c))   Persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) (Article 57(d)) Manufacture...
December 14, 2023

ECHA Calls for Evidence on Certain Chromium (VI) Substances

According to an item in the December 13, 2023, issue of the ECHA Weekly, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is looking for information for a potential restriction of certain chromium (VI) substances under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals regulation (REACH). ECHA has opened a call for evidence targeting companies using chromium (VI) substances. ECHA seeks information on: The call for evidence is intended for interested parties, such as private companies...
October 26, 2023

ECHA Finds REACH Registrations in Breach of Update Requirement

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced on September 27, 2023, that it carried out two campaigns during 2021-2023 to remind companies of their obligation to keep their Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) registrations up to date. According to ECHA, 57 of the 689 screened registrations, from 50 companies in 11 European Union (EU) member states, are still in breach of the update requirements under REACH Article 22. ECHA states that it reported...
September 22, 2023

ECHA Enforcement Forum Publishes Advice on Enforceability on Restricting Creosote

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced on September 13, 2023, that to improve transparency of the legislative process, its Enforcement Forum has decided to make its advice on the enforceability of Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation restriction proposals public. According to ECHA, Forum advice will from now on be available on ECHA’s website. The first published advice is on the proposal to restrict creosote and related substances in...
August 22, 2023

ECHA Publishes Main Alternatives to Substances Subject to REACH Authorization

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced in the August 16, 2023, issue of ECHA Weekly that to support substitution toward safer chemicals, it has published information on the main alternatives to substances requiring authorization under Annex XIV of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. ECHA notes that companies applying for an authorization under REACH must provide information on potential alternatives to the Annex XIV...
June 30, 2023

ECHA Accepting Comment on Draft SEAC Opinion on Proposed MCCP Restriction Proposal

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is seeking comment on the draft opinion of its Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) concerning the restriction proposal for medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCP) and other substances that contain chloroalkanes with carbon chain lengths within the range of C14 to C17. According to the Information Note on SEAC’s draft opinion, substances containing chloroalkanes with carbon chain lengths from C14 to C17 are used in various sectors and in a broad...
June 28, 2023

Registration Now Open for “Preparing a PFAS Game Plan in the U.S., the UK, and the EU” Webinar

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (EDT)4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (CEST) REGISTER NOW Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are attracting global legal, regulatory, commercial, and litigation attention as no other “emerging contaminant” has. Companies producing, processing, distributing, and/or using these substances must be aware of these global legal developments and take steps now to minimize legal, regulatory, and commercial risk. In the United States and globally, the number...