Chemicals | Monthly bulletin | December 2019
Recent updates regarding REACH
The table below includes a summary of the main recent updates (non-exhaustive) regarding REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006:
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Summary of main recent updates |
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Date |
Subject |
Link |
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07-11-2019 |
New proposal to amend REACH Regulation:
Draft Commission Regulation amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as regards lead in gunshot in or around wetlands
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Click here for notification details of reference G/TBT/N/EU/691 |
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18-11-2019 |
Publication of the results of the pilot project about substances of very high concern (SVHCs) in products |
Please click here for more information |
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20-11-2019 |
Committees’ opinions on restriction available :
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It is available in ECHA website |
The table below includes a summary of the main recent updates (non-exhaustive) regarding CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008:
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Summary of main recent updates |
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Date |
Subject |
Link |
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29-10-2019 |
New proposal to amend CLP Regulation:
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 |
The Eur-lex publication here |
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30-10-2019 |
An updated version of the ECHA Submission portal to the EU poison centres The main updates are:
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More information on the poison centres website |
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30-10-2019 |
Public consultation on harmonised classification and labelling:
The deadline for comments is 10 January 2020 |
Harmonised classification and labelling public consultations here |
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30-10-2019 |
Intentions for a proposal to harmonise the classification and labelling:
A proposal has been submitted for:
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Registry of CLH intentions until outcome here
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04-11-2019 |
New proposal to amend CLP Regulation:
Draft Commission Delegated Regulation amending for the purposes of its adaptation to technical and scientific progress, Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures |
Click here for notification details of reference G/TBT/N/EU/689 |
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20-11-2019 |
Poison Centre Notification database ready for Member States on-boarding |
Please click here for more information |
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21-11-2019 |
Publication of Overview of Member States decisions I relation to implementation of Annex VIII to CLP Regulation (Poison Centre Notification) |
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On 5th November 2019, the European Commission has published the following amendments to Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS) as below:
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Reference |
Title |
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Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2019/1845 of 8 August 2019 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 |
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Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2019/1846 of 8 August 2019 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 |
Recent publications by European Commission
Below you will find a recent publication of the Official Journal of the European Union related to E&E:
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Date |
Reference |
Title |
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28-10-2019 |
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS The annual Union work programme for European standardisation for 2020 |
Find below a summary table with some recent technical publication on food contact materials (non-exhaustive):
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Date |
Countries |
Entity |
Title |
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16-10-2019 |
France |
ANSES |
Avoid replacing bisphenol A by bisphenol B
The results of an assessment of the endocrine-disrupting properties of bisphenol B (BPB) |
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21-08-2019 |
Germany |
BfR |
New health-based guidance values for the industrial chemicals PFOS and PFOA BfR opinion No 032/2019 |
California proposes list of PFAS-containing textile treatments as priority product
Recently California’s DTSC proposed to list treatments containing perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances for use on converted textiles or leathers such as carpets, upholstery, clothing and shoes, as Priority Products.
PFASs are part of a class of chemicals composed of highly stable carbon-fluorine bonds, which can be used in many ways. Exposure to PFASs can increase the risk of suffering from adverse health effects such as increased serum cholesterol and immune dysregulation. Treatment for converted textiles or leathers is a significant source of PFAS exposure to humans. Based on these facts, DTSC proposes to list PFAS-containing Textile or leather treatments as Priority Product.
Comments can be submitted by December 31, 2019.
Please click here for more information.
Public consultation on warning under Proposition 65
On 21st October 2019, the public consultation on Modification to Text of Proposed Regulation Title 27, California Code of Regulations Proposed Amendment to Section 25600.2 Responsibility to Provide Consumer Product Exposure Warnings was closed.
The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has stated that the revisions are not intended to expand or reduce the scope of the current definition but merely to clarify the existing regulation. One purpose of the most recent revisions is to clarify the circumstances under which a retailer has “actual knowledge” of the potential consumer exposure that would require a warning under Proposition 65.
Click here for more information.
Vermont proposes to expand formaldehyde’s definition in CHCC reporting rule
Vermont’s chemical of high concern (CHCC) reporting rule now requires manufacturers of children’s products to provide notice to the Department of Health annually in case their product contains CHCC above the threshold.
On October 30, 2019, the state of Vermont published a proposed rule which expands the definition of formaldehyde to include “formaldehyde donors”, which are the substances that are intentionally added to a product to degrade to and release formaldehyde as a preservative.
Comments may be submitted by December 11, 2019.
Please click here for more.
Technical national standard for plastic products
On 29th October 2019, The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) published the technical national standard Nº 2019-352 in which the Annex 24 – “plastic products” is added to “Household Goods Subject to Safety Standards.”
Below a summary table with the main points:
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Scope |
Type |
Examples |
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Mats |
Yoga mats, floor mats, kitchen mats, etc. |
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Footwear made of plastic |
Slippers, bathing shoes, insoles, etc. |
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Bags made of plastic |
Swimming bags, etc. |
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Others |
Cell phone cases, gym balls, earphones (including headphones, headsets, etc., that come into direct contact with ears), toilet seats, etc. |
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Mechanical and Physical Requirements |
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Chemical Requirements (Following the common safety standards for children’s products (last edition) in test methods) |
Hazardous substances |
Limits |
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Toxic elements content |
Total lead content |
≤ 300 mg/kg |
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≤ 90mg/kg (for paint and surface coating) |
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Total Cadmium content |
≤ 75 mg/kg |
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Total phthalates content |
DEHP |
Total ≤ 0.1% |
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DBP |
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BBP |
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Labelling requirements |
The following information shall be to appear on each product or minimum unit packaging indelibly and visibly:
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Note: Please note that the website is available in Korean language only.
Upcoming dates of application
As a reminder, below you will find a summary of standards and legislation that will apply starting within the next six months:
- Legislation:
Manufacturers and importers should carefully consider these coming dates of application and confirm that their products comply with these restrictions:
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- US: New Hampshire- SB193 Flame retardants ban in furniture and carpeting
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- Brief description:
This legislation bans the sale or import of upholstered furniture containing in its fabric, other covering or in its cushioning materials more than 0.1 percent of a flame-retardant chemical or more than 0.1 percent of a mixture that includes flame-retardant chemicals.
This bill also requires manufacturers of upholstered furniture to have a certificate of Compliance according to this requirement to submit to the authorities in a period of 30 days from its request.
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- It will start applying on 1st January 2020.
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- Turkey: Regulation on Persistent Organic Pollutants - POP (Official Gazette: 30595)
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- Brief description:
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- The use of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) (listed in Annex 2), either on its own or in a mixture, in the manufacture of expanded polystyrene articles and for this purpose is permitted until 28.11.2019. The introduction and use of expanded polystyrene articles containing Hexabromocyclododecane as constituent and produced in accordance with this exemption is permitted for up to 6 months from the date on which this exemption expires. Items that have already been used up to this date can still be used.
- The regulation will start applying on 28th November 2019.
