Technological watch

 

Europe

 

Lack of supply chain communication on SVHCs in articles

 

On 1st September 2017, the Project - 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:

 



 

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.

 

Better labels for detergents

 

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.

 

Regulatory updates

 

Below a summary table with recent regulation proposal notified to European Commission (Non-exhaustive):

 

Notification number

Countries

Title

2019/360/IRL

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:

 

Reference

Title

C/2019/5780 final

 

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

C/2019/5781 final

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):

 

Notification number / Link

Title

G/TBT/N/EU/674

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

G/TBT/N/EU/675

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

G/TBT/N/EU/676

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

G/TBT/N/EU/677

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:

 

Summary of main recent updates

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

G/TBT/N/EU/668

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

C(2019) 4987

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

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.

17-07-2019

Restriction proposals:

 

• TCEP, TCPP and TDCP (organophosphate flame retardants) (EC 204-118-5; 237-158-7; 237-159-2). Withdrawn the intention to restrict the placing on the market of childcare articles and residential upholstered furniture with PUR foams containing
• The submission of the Annex XV restriction report on lead chromate; lead sulfochromate yellow (C.I. Pigment Yellow 34) and lead chromate molybdate sulphate red (C.I. Pigment Red 104)
• Submitted a proposal of calcium cyanamide (EC 205-861-8, CAS 156-62-7)

Registry of restriction intentions until outcome here

25-07-2019

Update regarding Restriction proposal for intentionally added microplastics in the EU

Microplastics update

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)

C/2019/5527 final

21-08-2019

New SVHC intentions for:

 

• 4,4'-(1-methylpropylidene)bisphenol (EC 201-025-1, CAS 77-40-7)
• Resorcinol (EC 203-585-2, CAS 108-46-3)

Registry of SVHC intentions until outcome here

 

Recent Updates Regarding CLP

 

Below table includes a summary of the main recent updates (non-exhaustive) regarding CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008:

 

Summary of main recent updates

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

G/TBT/N/EU/669

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

24-07-2019

Harmonised classification and labelling proposals for:

 

• (EC 216-485-9, CAS 1596-84-5)
• (EC 253-057-0, CAS 36483-57-5; 1522-92-5)
• (EC 227-561-6, CAS 5888-33-5)
• (EC 277-728-2; CAS 74115-24-5)

The deadline for comments is 24 September 2019

Harmonised classification and labelling public consultations here

24-07-2019

New proposals to harmonise classification and labelling:

• (EC 216-036-7, CAS 1478-61-1)
• ; 1,1-dimethylpiperidinium chloride (EC 246-147-6, CAS 24307-26-4)
• (EC 211-463-5, CAS 646-06-0)
• (EC 201-250-5, CAS 80-09-1)
• (EC 430-050-2, CAS -)
• ; methylene chloride (EC 200-838-9, CAS 75-09-2)
• , N,N'-mixed Ph and tolyl derivs. (EC 273-227-8, CAS 68953-84-4)
• (EC 246-585-8, CAS 25057-89-0)

Registry of CLH intentions until outcome here

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

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)

Click here for getting the new version of guideline

 

Germany

 

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.

 

UK

 

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.

 

Click here to access the EAC’s publication

 

US

 

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.

 

International

 

Regulatory proposals notified to WTO

 

Below a summary table with some recent notifications to World Trade Organization (non-exhaustive):

 

Notification number / Link

Country

Title

G/TBT/N/CAN/594

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

G/TBT/N/CAN/595

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

G/TBT/N/USA/1500

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)

G/TBT/N/USA/1511

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

G/TBT/N/USA/1513

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)

G/TBT/N/USA/1514

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)