Eurofins | Newsflash - September 2018 | Chemicals

Europe

New public consultation

On 23^rd July 2018 , the European Commission opened a public consultation about the interface between chemical, product and waste legislations.

The aim is to try to solve some issues that are currently hindering the transition of recycled materials from waste to new products such as:

Insufficient information about substances of concern in products and waste
There is no general framework to deal with the presence of substances of concern in recycled materials
Uncertainties about how materials can cease to be waste
Difficulties in applying EU waste classification methodologies and impacts on the recyclability of materials

The consulting period is open until 29 October 2018.

Click here to access the public consultation in the European Commission Website.
Click here for getting the roadmap of this consultation.

Europe

Detergents Ecolabels: extension of transitional periods

A number of national bodies responsible for awarding the European Union's ecolabels have informed the European Commission of the need to extend these transition periods by six months because of the large number of applications they have received for the renewal of the contracts for the award of these labels. The Commission carried out an assessment which confirmed the need to extend the six-month transition periods.

On 13^th July 2018, the European Commission published the amending Decisions (EU) 2017/1214, (EU) 2017/1215, (EU) 2017/1216, (EU) 2017/1218 and (EU) 2017/1219 as regards the duration of the transitional period in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This text extends the transitional periods for the application of the revised criteria and new requirements for the ecolabel for the following products: hand dishwashing detergents, industrial and community dishwashing detergents, laundering detergents dishwashing, textile detergents, textile detergents for industrial or community purposes.

Europe - REACH

Eurofins Chemicals Lower limit for PAHs in granules and mulches

Proposal – Lower limit for PAHs in granules and mulches

The Netherlands has prepared a proposal to support a possible restriction to address the risks from eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) found in granules and mulches used in synthetic turf pitches, or in loose forms at playgrounds and other sports facilities.

Their proposal suggests a combined concentration limit for the eight PAHs of 17 mg/kg (0.0017 % by weight). Nowadays, the concentration limit applicable for supply to the general public is 100 mg/kg for two of the PAHs and 1 000 mg/kg for the other six.

Click here for reading more information about this consultation in the ECHA website.

Europe - REACH

Recent Additional 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
July 2018	The Commission has requested ECHA to assess the risk of 5 cobalt salts in industrial and professional uses and restrict those uses where adequate control cannot be demonstrated. Cobalt salts: cobalt carbonate; cobalt di(acetate); cobalt dichloride; cobalt dinitrate; cobalt sulphate Submission date has been updated to 5^th October 2018	Information about the registry of restriction intention
August 2018	A new intention for identification as a substance of very high concern: Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS), its salts and related substances (EC -; CAS -)	Click here for going to the Registry of SVHC intentions

Europe - CLP

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
July 2018	European Commission notified to World trade Organization the Draft Commission 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 (and its accompanying annexes)	Reference: G/TBT/N/EU/586
August 2018	Intention to harmonise the classification and labelling for: Cyromazine (ISO) N-cyclopropyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine (EC 266-257-8, CAS 66215-27-8) Proposals to harmonise the classification and labelling for: trifloxystrobin (ISO); methyl (E)-methoxyimino-{(E)-α-[1-(α,α,α-trifluoro-m-tolyl)ethylideneaminooxy]-o-tolyl}acetate (EC -, CAS 141517-21-7) esfenvalerate (ISO); (S)-α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (S)-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-methylbutyrate (EC -, CAS 66230-04-4) ethametsulfuron-methyl (ISO); methyl 2-[(4-ethoxy-6-methylamino-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)carbamoylsulfamoyl]benzoate (EC -, CAS 97780-06-8). hree new proposals to harmonise the classification and labelling have been submitted by the United Kingdom desmedipham (EC 237-198-5, CAS 13684-56-5) phenmedipham (EC 237-199-0, CAS 13684-63-4) imazamox (ISO); (RS)-2-(4-isopropyl-4-methyl-5-oxo-2-imidazolin-2-yl)-5-methoxymethylnicotinic acid (EC 601-305-7, CAS 114311-32-9)	Click here for the Registry of CLH intentions until outcome

France

Electronic Cigarrette guide

On 27^th July 2018, the Direction Générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes (DGCCRF) published an article about Electronic cigarettes.

In this article, the DGCCRF has done a summary about this product (definition, regulations, classification of substances, etc…).

Click here for reading the DGCCRF article (in French).

California Proposition 65 Reformulations (August, 2018)

California Proposition 65 is the ‘Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986’, which has been effective for almost 30 years. Due to the implement of California Proposition 65, more and more court cases are settled to reduce the exposure of carcinogenic and reproductive chemicals by reformulating the consumer products containing such chemicals.

In order to keep retailers and manufacturers up-to-date, the highlights of the consent agreement are summarized as below:

Product	Chemical	Limit	Case No
Christmas Stockings	Lead	100ppm 1.0ug Products exceed the limit shall utilize a warning statement	San Francisco Superior Court CGC-18-564284
Brass compass wheel	Lead	90ppm 1.0ug Products exceed the limit shall utilize a warning statement	Out of court
Measuring cups with exterior designs	Lead	120 ppm 1.2ug Labeling is not allowed	Out of court
Do IT Icemaker Kit	Lead	100 ppm Products exceed the limit shall utilize a warning statement	Out of court

California Proposition 65 warning requirements IN FORCE

New Proposition 65 warning requirements are effective from August 30, 2018.

Comparing to the current warning requirements, the new rule includes following main amendments:

The warning shall be preceded by a symbol that is bold black-outlined, yellow equilateral triangle with an exclamation point in the center. The symbol should be placed to the left of the word ”WARNING” and no smaller than the height of this word
The word” WARNING” must be all in capital letters and bold printed
The warning content should disclose one or more Proposition 65-listed chemicals and the risks of exposure like cancer or reproductive harm. For instance, when the product can cause exposure to a carcinogen:

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including [name of one or more chemicals], which is [are] known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov

Abbreviated "on-product" warnings are permitted not to disclosure the name of the listed chemicals in the product. For instance, when the product can cause exposure to reproductive toxicants:

WARNING: Reproductive harm - www.P65Warnings.ca.gov

Products manufactured after August 30, 2018 must comply with the newest Proposition 65 warning requirements to reduce the risk of recall and lawsuits. Click here for FAQ.

California Proposition 65- Nickel and nickel compounds under study

On 27^th July 2018, the California OEHHA (Office of environmental Health Hazard Assessment) published the following announcement: “Announcement of the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee Meeting Scheduled For October 11, 2018 and Availability of Hazard Identification Materials for Nickel and Nickel Compounds”.

In the 11 October meeting, the DARTIC (Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee of OEHHA’s Science Advisory Board) will consider whether to add the Nickel and nickel compounds to the California Proposition 65 list.

Click here for reading the article in the OEHHA website.

Eurofins Chemicals list of high priority chemicals of concern for children's health

Oregon Proposed to Amend list of high priority chemicals of concern for children's health

The Oregon Health Authority has recently proposed to amend Administrative Rules in Chapter 333, Division 16, related to the Toxic Free Kids Act, including modifying the reportable chemical list, notification requirements, enforcement and civil penalties and Fees.

Under the Toxic Free Kids Act, the manufacturers of children’s products are required to report high priority chemicals of concern for children’s health (HPCCCH) at or above specific levels in their products that are sold or offered for sale in Oregon.

The proposed amendments add five high priority chemicals to HPCCCH list:

Bisphenol S (80-09-1)
Triphenyl phosphate (115-86-6)
Tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (13674-84-5)
Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (85535-84-8)
2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (183658-27-7)

The proposed amendments also remove the following three high priority chemicals from HPCCCH list:

Phthalic anhydride (85-44-9)
Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (556-67-2)
Molybdenum and molybdenum compounds (7439-98-7)

Final date for comments was August 22, 2018 and the amendment to the HPCCCH list are to be effective for the next biennial reporting deadline – 1 January 2020 if adopted.

For more information click here.