ECHA committees reach consensus on PFHxS but not on resorcinol

Committee agrees to support Norway’s restriction proposal on manufacture and placing on the market of perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts, and related substances; cannot reach consensus to identify resorcinol as substance of very high concern (SVHC), agree that it is endocrine disrupting under World Health Organization (WHO) definition

ECHA online event discusses legislation goals

ECHA director presents interest in a single assessment approach for each substance to minimize burden, harmonize data structure across legislations; DG Environment director outlines EU goals for safer chemicals, leading transition to safe chemicals and non-chemical alternatives

NGOs call for lower PFHxA concentration limit

Consortium of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) submits comments on EU restriction proposal for perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and related substances; calls for concentration limits much lower than those currently proposed, transparent justification for limits proposed

ECHA holds online safer chemicals conference

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) online event features 14 presentations from government agencies and industry associations, retailers; covers topics under the themes of safer chemicals, tracking substances of concern, and harmonized information for poison control centers; slides and recordings available

ECHA strategy report highlights grouping

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) publishes annual report of its Integrated Regulatory Strategy; presents results from recent review of registered substances with annual volumes greater than 100 tons, finds 56% lacking data; grouping approach helping to speed up regulatory actions, improve consistency

ECHA conclusions on siloxanes, PFHxS, formaldehyde

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) committees for socio-economic analysis (SEAC) and risk assessment (RAC) publish opinions, support restriction proposals on substances

ECHA launches EUCLEF legislation tool

Launch of new European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) tool aims to help small and medium enterprises more easily determine which EU legislation applies to chemicals; current version covers 40 pieces of legislation, 16 additional pieces to be added in 2021

ECHA considers placing 7 substances on authorization list

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) launches public consultation to collect additional information on substances of very high concern (SVHCs); 6 are food contact chemicals, including dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP)

Prototype of SVHC reporting database open for testing

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) releases prototype version of database, aims to help companies familiarize themselves with submitting notifications for substances of very high concern (SVHCs) in articles; final database to be launched in late 2020, become mandatory January 5, 2021

ECHA adds 4 SVHCs to Candidate List

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) adds 4 substances of very high concern (SVHCs) to candidate list for authorization, includes additive potentially used in food contact polymer production and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) and its salts