News

Highlights from September BPC meeting

ECHA’s Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) backs the approval of sulphur dioxide generated from sulphur by combustion as an active substance used for disinfection of wine barrels.

The committee also concluded that iodine and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) iodine should, in principle, not be approved in the EU as they meet the criteria for endocrine disruption.

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ECHA announcements

Paul Krajnik re-elected as ECHA’s Management Board chair

Our Management Board has re-elected its current chair, Paul Krajnik, to lead its work for two more years, starting on 1 October 2022. Congratulations!

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Dr Sharon McGuinness to start 1 December 2022

Our Management Board has concluded the appointment process of our new Executive Director, Dr Sharon McGuinness. She will start her first five-year term at ECHA on 1 December 2022.

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REACH

Call for evidence on possible restriction proposal for MOCA

We are collecting further information for a potential restriction proposal on
4,4'-methylenebis[2-chloroaniline] (MOCA).

MOCA is on the REACH Authorisation List and we have screened its uses and their risks in products (articles) as required by Article 69(2). We are now looking for information to see whether a restriction proposal needs to be prepared to control the risks to people from this carcinogen that has no safe level of exposure.

The deadline for comments is 16 November 2022.

Current calls for comments and evidence

Last call: Consultation on EFSA's data on game meat

Send us your comments by 6 October 2022 on two European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) datasets on game meat intake and lead concentrations in game meat. This data was used by ECHA to assess the risks to human health from the use of lead in ammunition.

Give comments

Register now: Workshop on using trivalent chromium in functional plating with decorative character

10 October 2022, 13:00-16:00 Brussels time

We are organising an online workshop together with industry to understand:

How trivalent chromium is currently used in functional plating with decorative character, and to what extent are borates used in this process?
What are the implications on human health and the environment from using trivalent chromium and borates?
What sources are used to manufacture trivalent chromium and how is this is different from hexavalent chromium?

The workshop will be organised through WebEx. Register now to book your seat. Login details will be sent to those who register.

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Assessment of regulatory needs reports published

Reports have been published for the following groups of substances:

You can filter the list with the group name to get a full list of the substances in the group and access the report.

Assessment of regulatory needs

Authorisations granted for uses of two substances

The European Commission has granted an authorisation for uses of chromium trioxide (EC 215-607-8, CAS 1333-82-0) to Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH (review period expires on 31 December 2032).

The European Commission has granted 2 authorisations for uses of 4-(1,1,3,3-Tetramethylbutyl)phenol, ethoxylated (4-tert-OPnEO)
(EC -, CAS -) (review period expiry dates in brackets):

one use applied for by LETI Pharma, S.L.U. (31 December 2030); and
one use applied for by Vetter Pharma-Fertigung GmbH & Co. KG
(4 January 2026).

CLP

New intention and proposals to harmonise classification and labelling

An intention has been received for cinnamaldehyde (EC 203-213-9, CAS 104-55-2).

Sweden has submitted three proposals for:

calcium metaborate (Ca(BO2)2) and calcium tetraborate (CaB4O7), amorphous reaction products of boric acid with lime (EC 701-311-0, CAS -);
pentaboron sodium octaoxide (EC 234-522-7, CAS 12007-92-0); and
boric acid (HBO2), sodium salt, tetrahydrate (EC 600-663-1, CAS 10555-76-7).

Registry of CLH intentions until outcome

IT tools

Data Uploader webinar: converting your chemical data into IUCLID format

19 October 2022, 11:00-13:00 Helsinki time

In this webinar, we will help you get started with the Data Uploader and guide you through the different workflow steps. It can be used to convert chemical data into IUCLID format.

Join the webinar from our home page. You can send us questions throughout the event. Our experts will be answering until 13:00.

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Nanomaterials

NanoData URL update

Update your bookmarks with the new URL for the Nano Technology Knowledge Base (NanoData): http://euon.echa.europa.eu/nanodata.

NanoData has been available on the European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) website since June 2022. The automatic redirect from the old NanoData website that has been in place during the transition period is no longer available.

EU Chemicals Legislation Finder

Last call: Survey on health-based limit values usage

Give your feedback on the use of health-based limit values that are used in a regulatory context to protect people and the environment from negative effects after exposure to different chemical substances or mixtures.

The survey is part of ongoing work led by the European Commission in collaboration with other EU agencies. It is open until 10 October 2022.

Answer the survey

European Commission

Last call: Call for evidence: Basic regulation for ECHA

The European Commission has published a call for evidence on a proposal for a basic regulation for ECHA. The initiative aims to strengthen ECHA’s governance, streamline the working methods of ECHA’s bodies and make their financing more sustainable.

Give your feedback by 10 October 2022.

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