Biocides Stakeholders' Day today in Helsinki

Over 200 people have joined us today (24 September) from more than 28 countries here in Helsinki to learn more about the EU biocidal products legislation. The programme features the latest news from ECHA and the European Commission and experiences from European industry one year after the entry into operation of the new legislation. You will find the presentations on our website and a video recording of the conference will be available soon.

Follow the event live by webstream and join the discussion on Twitter #BiocidesDay.

Webstream | Programme | List of speakers | Event page

Official Article 95 list published

Following a correction exercise of the provisional list of active substances and suppliers, the first official Article 95 list is now available on ECHA's website.

Press release | List of active substances and suppliers

ECHA publishes a Practical Guide on the Biocidal Products Regulation

ECHA has published a Practical Guide on the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR). To help companies to better fulfil their obligations and tasks under the BPR, this Practical Guide is structured in sections describing what the principles behind each obligation are: who is concerned by the obligations; what are the relevant timelines and the deadlines; which are the information requirements; the procedure to follow and the expected results of the process. The guide also highlights the exceptions and particular cases for some of the processes. Finally, it lists the relevant fees for each obligation.

Additional chapters will follow in late October 2014.

News alert | Practical Guide

ECHA calls for a new round of comments on the reproductive toxicity of acetochlor

ECHA is launching an additional public consultation on the harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) for reproductive toxicity of acetochlor (EC No 251-899-3, CAS No 34256-82-1). New comments on this hazard class are welcome.

News alert

New JRC report reviews available methods for assessing chemical safety

The JRC has published a state-of-the art review of non-animal methods and non-testing (computational) approaches that help promote the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, and refinement of animal experiments) in the safety assessment of chemicals. The report also includes many "non-standard" methods, e.g. in vitro methods and QSAR modelling that are not included in current regulatory guidelines. The report is of interest for companies that produce or market chemicals and consumer products. It provides a valuable resource for regulatory bodies and non-governmental organisations interested in the use of non-standard methods for enhanced safety testing. The review was completed by the JRC-based European Union Reference Laboratory for Alternatives to Animal Testing (EURL ECVAM) within a collaboration agreement with ECHA.

JRC report | Abstract

Workshop discussing latest scientific developments in bioaccumulation research held at ECHA

The Long-range Research Initiative programme (LRI) of Cefic organised a workshop on 24 September at ECHA to discuss the latest key developments in bioaccumulation science. LRI also presented ongoing and finalised projects on bioaccumulation. The workshop aimed to evaluate current bioaccumulation assessment practices for organic chemicals and identify optimal assessment approaches based on the 'State of the Science'.

CEFIC's event web page | CEFIC's press statement

Let us know what you think about our news services

We recently sent you our annual news readership survey, looking for your feedback on our e-News and Newsletter. We want to encourage you to take part in the survey, as it helps us to understand your needs and improve our news services for you. You will have received an email to your inbox with a direct link to the short survey. However, if you are a news subscriber and have not yet received the link, please let us know at: surveys@echa.europa.eu.

The survey will be open until 30 September 2014.

Mixture classification and communicating safe use of mixtures. Advice for formulators and importers.

5 November 2014, 11:00 – 13:00 Helsinki Time (EEST, GMT +3)

This webinar is about the classification of mixtures and on how information on the safe use of mixtures can be communicated in the supply chain. It aims to help formulators and importers understand and implement their obligations according to the REACH and CLP regulations relating to mixtures.

In anticipation of the 2015 deadline for classifying mixtures according to CLP, this webinar describes the steps a supplier should take to (re)classify mixtures. It also describes how formulators can handle and communicate the information they receive in exposure scenarios for hazardous substances. The related REACH and CLP obligations are outlined and participants are guided to the wide range of support material that is available to help fulfil these obligations.

Register