European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) publishes report on motivations for companies to substitute hazardous chemicals; greatest drivers found to be regulatory restrictions under REACH, customer demand, internal sustainability strategies
July 2, 2020
EU to inspect consumer products for hazardous substances
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announces large enforcement project to check for presence of select hazardous substances regulated under REACH and persistent organic pollutant legislation; communication along supply chain to be evaluated; results to be released in 2023
June 25, 2020
ECHA adds four new SVHCs to candidate list
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) identifies four new substances of very high concern (SVHCs) set to be phased-out; two are food contact chemicals including 1-vinylimidazole and 2-methylimidazole
June 24, 2020
FPF comments on EU chemicals strategy roadmap
Food Packaging Forum (FPF) submits feedback on European Commission’s roadmap to develop chemicals strategy for sustainability; calls for sufficient support to establish appropriate test methods, prioritize substitution of the known hazardous chemicals currently authorized for use in food contact materials
June 18, 2020
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
June 2, 2020
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
March 9, 2020
Recycling association circular economy paper
European recycling association EuRIC AISBL shows concern for lack of interface between EU chemicals, product, and waste legislation; provides recommendations to support circular economy including harmonizing EU waste legislation, derogations for legacy substances
March 5, 2020
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)
February 18, 2020
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
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)