European Commissioner for the Internal Market (DG Grow) commits to removing hazardous substances from material cycles in first address to Parliamentary committee on environment; aims to harmonize rules for substances of very high concern (SVHCs), update REACH legislation to manage endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)
January 7, 2020
EU Commission solicits comments on draft REACH update requirements
European Commission draft implementing regulations specifies when registrants should update REACH dossiers following changes; public feedback period open until January 15, 2020
December 10, 2019
Guidance document for PMT/vPvM substances
German Environment Agency (UBA) provides updated guidelines for identifying substances that are persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) or very persistent and very mobile (vPvM); finds 260 REACH registered substances meet set criteria, prioritizes 122 for further investigation
December 9, 2019
ECHA ‘maps’ REACH chemicals
European Chemicals Agency publishes ‘map of chemical universe’ assigning over 21’000 REACH-registered chemicals into regulatory action-based ‘pools’; the majority (86%) not yet evaluated
October 4, 2019
Registration of polymers in REACH
NGO ChemSec argues that registering polymers under REACH is ‘overdue’; registration would provide vital information about polymers’ properties and use
October 2, 2019
ECHA recommends 18 SVHCs for authorization
European Chemicals Agency recommends 18 substances of very high concern for addition to the authorization list, includes six food contact chemicals
October 1, 2019
Webinar on REACH requirements for nanoforms
European Chemicals Agency hosts webinar on November 12, 2019, to explain definition of nanoform, approaches to building sets of similar nanoforms, new REACH data requirements
September 30, 2019
Workshop on synergies between REACH and EU FCM laws
CHEM Trust organizes workshop in Brussels with EU governments and regulatory experts; discusses roles REACH data could have to support FCM safety, challenges of chemicals in non-harmonized FCMs; presentations and detailed minutes published to support ongoing discussions
September 26, 2019
Report critically reviews socioeconomic assessments
New Economics Foundation publishes report investigating use of discount rates in socioeconomic assessments for industrial chemicals regulations under REACH; recommends considering precautionary principle regardless of economic effects, questions whether effects should be monetized
September 6, 2019
Four new SVHCs proposed
EU member states propose four new substances for inclusion on REACH Candidate list of substances of very high concern for Authorization; all substances relevant for food contact