September Newsletter is out

Do you know what REACH authorisation is about? Or how harmful chemicals are replaced with safer alternatives in the United States? Have you heard of a concept called chemical leasing? Read the ECHA Newsletter and find out about these and many more topics.

Read the Newsletter | PDF version

European Ombudsman closes complaint on how ECHA applies rules concerning animal testing

The European Ombudsman closed a complaint against ECHA after its proposed solution was accepted by the Agency.

News item | Information on the case

Registry of Intentions updated

Harmonised classification and labelling

Three dossiers for harmonised classification and labelling were received: mesosulfuron-methyl (CAS 208465-21-8) submitted by France, propiconazole (EC 262-104-4) submitted by Finland and fludioxonil (CAS 131341-86-1) submitted by Denmark.

Submitted CLH proposals

PBT assessments under previous legislation now available

ECHA has made the assessments conducted under previous EU chemicals legislation on 127 substances suspected to have PBT (persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic) and vPvB (very persistent and very bioaccumulative) properties available. The assessments were carried out by the sub-group on identification of PBT and vPvB substances (TC NES) between 2003 and 2007. The outcomes and summary fact sheets are now available on ECHA's website to ensure that previous work on the substances can be taken into account in further activities. The Member States can discuss PBT and vPvB assessments in the PBT Expert Group, which is coordinated and hosted by ECHA.

PBT/vPvB assessments under the previous EU chemicals legislation | PBT Expert Group

Do you give presentations on REACH and CLP as part of your work?

Five presentations highlighting key issues of REACH and CLP for downstream users are available for you to download. We invite you to use the slides freely in your presentations to save time. They are aimed at different audiences, including management, workers, environmental health and safety professionals, industry groups and authorities.

Presentations for downstream users

Updated Guidance on CLP: translations available

ECHA has published translations into 22 EU languages of the latest update to the Introductory Guidance on the CLP Regulation (version 2.1). The Guidance document was updated in August 2015 to specifically take into account the full entry into force of the CLP Regulation and the end of the transition period for labelling mixtures according to the Dangerous Products Directive (DPD) and classifying their components according to the Dangerous Substances Directive (DSD).

Guidance on CLP

Last chance to tell us what you think of our news products

If you want to give feedback on our e-News and Newsletter in this year's news readership survey, now is your final chance to do so, as the survey will close on Monday 28 September. Each of you have received an email to your inbox with a link to the survey. However, if you are subscribed to our news and have not yet received the link, please let us know at: surveys@echa.europa.eu.

Interested in training for Chesar?

A new and improved version of Chesar – the tool that helps you to efficiently carry out and maintain your chemical safety assessments – will be published in 2016. Chesar 3.0 also includes new features, for example, the possibility to assess substances with complex composition or hazard profile, such as UVCBs. ECHA is currently working on a training programme for all those interested. We would like to know what training method you prefer – especially if you are a new user. Go to our survey and have your say by 25 September. It will take only five minutes to complete and does not require any previous use or knowledge on Chesar. The results will be used to develop a training programme for 2016.

Survey on Chesar training needs | Get wise – use Chesar

Board of Appeal

Board of Appeal decision in case A-005-2014 on the substance evaluation of carbon tetrachloride

In Case A-005-2014, the appellants contested an Agency decision requesting an extended one-generation reproductive toxicity study (EOGRTS) following the substance evaluation of carbon tetrachloride (EC 200-262-8).

The decision examines the conditions that need to be met in order for the Agency to justify a request for further information following the substance evaluation of a substance. The decision clarifies that the Agency needs to be able to demonstrate that there is a potential risk, that the risk needs to be clarified and that the requested information has a realistic possibility of leading to improved risk management measures. The decision also examines the relationship between substance and dossier evaluation.

The Board of Appeal annulled the Contested Decision on the grounds that it was disproportionate as the EOGRTS is not, based on available information, necessary to clarify a potential risk to human health and the environment. Furthermore, the Board of Appeal found that the Agency had not adequately justified requesting information that was standard for only one registrant from several registrants.

Board of Appeal decisions

Conference: REACH and beyond - challenges and options for improvements

20 October 2015, Brussels

Eight EU Member States and Norway invite you to a conference in Brussels on 20 October to discuss the need for action and possible solutions on how to improve the operation of REACH and to initiate thinking beyond REACH on our future chemicals policy. The event will bring together high level representatives from the Member States, the European Parliament and the European Commission, as well as industry associations and consumer and environmental organisations. This is an opportunity to interact and engage directly with regulators on how the operation of REACH can be improved.

Event page

Exchange Network on Exposure Scenarios to meet in Brussels

5-6 November 2015, Brussels

The ninth ENES meeting will give an update on the development of tools to improve communication on use and exposure in the supply chain under REACH. The tools are being developed under the CSR/ES Roadmap. More information coming online soon.

CSR/ES Roadmap

18 November 2015, 11:00 - 12:00, Helsinki time

Does your company have previous experience of registering chemicals under the REACH Regulation? If not, this webinar is for you. We will show you how to retrieve your pre-registrations in REACH-IT and check if your substance has been already registered. You will learn how to find the companies you need to work with to register jointly. You will also get tips on how to start cooperating in a substance information exchange forum (SIEF). A Q&A session at the end of the webinar will address any outstanding issues related to the topic.

This is the second webinar of a series focusing on practical information to successfully register by the deadline of 31 May 2018.

Register | REACH 2018 web pages | REACH 2018 webinar: Know your portfolio and start preparing now

ECHA webinar: Downstream user update

21 October 2015, 11:00 - 12:30, Helsinki time

The webinar aims to update downstream users on recent activities that will help them use chemicals safely and fulfil their duties under REACH. The topics will include how downstream users can benefit from the latest work done to improve the information in the supply chain, how to prepare a downstream user chemical safety report and how to notify ECHA on authorised uses.

Webinar page | Agenda | Register

Workshop on 'Streamlining applications for authorisation'

17 November 2015, Brussels

The European Commission and ECHA are organising a workshop to further improve the functioning of the application for authorisation process. The workshop will focus on two aspects: how to make 'fit-for-purpose' applications in general and how to fulfil the information requirements for 'upstream' applications.

It is a follow-up to the 'Lessons Learned' conference on applications for authorisation, held in Helsinki on 10-11 February 2015.

Event page | Register