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
February 6, 2020
New European commissioner targets non-toxic material cycles
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 22, 2020
EU launches app about SVHCs in products
AskREACH project’s ‘Scan4Chem’ app allows consumers to scan product barcodes and retrieve information on presence of substances of very high concern (SVHCs); users can also submit information requests to companies, see all requests and responses across EU countries
January 20, 2020
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
January 6, 2020
ECHA recognizes PFBS as substance of very high concern
European member states agree to recognize perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) as a substance of very high concern (SVHC); cite equivalent concern to carcinogenic, mutagenic, reprotoxic substances, high mobility in environment
November 18, 2019
SIN List update includes 20 food contact chemicals
ChemSec announces major update to Substitute It Now (SIN) List, adds 47 new chemicals including including persistent, mobile, and toxic substances, carbon nanotubes; announcement event brings together stakeholders to discuss clean circular economy
November 18, 2019
ECHA inspection: failures to communicate SVHCs in articles
European Chemicals Agency pilot enforcement project finds 12% of inspected articles contain substances of very high concern (SVHCs) with 88% of suppliers failing to sufficiently communicate to customers; calls for improved communication in the supply chain
November 5, 2019
UK rejects ban on SVHCs in food packaging
UK government rejects earlier recommendation from committee report to ban Substances of Very High Concern from food contact materials
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
September 9, 2019
Information requirements for SCIP database
European Chemicals Agency sets information requirements for upcoming database on substances of very high concern (SVHCs) in products; requires name, concentration, location of SVHC in article; notification to be required from January 5, 2021