ECHA Weekly - 23 May 2018

ECHA is looking for co-opted members for RAC and SEAC

We are looking for experts in the fields of occupational hygiene, chemical exposure assessment and socio-economic analysis. These experts will work as co-opted members of the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) and the Committee for Socio-economic Analysis (SEAC). RAC needs additional expertise in the field of worker protection while SEAC needs experts in analysing cost and benefits of regulation, assessing technical feasibility of alternatives and substitution of substances of concern. RAC and SEAC may co-opt five additional members each. The mandate of the currently co-opted members expires in 2018.

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Revised waste framework directive adopted – new tasks for ECHA

The European Council adopted yesterday the revised directive on waste, which foresees also new tasks to ECHA regarding substances in articles. This includes establishing a new database by end of 2019.

European Commission press release

ECHA’s strategic plan consultation – thank you for your comments

We received 170 comments to our draft strategic plan for 2019-2023. Thank you for your valuable input. After further revision and internal consultation, we expect our Management Board to adopt the plan in December 2018.

Comments to ECHA's Strategic Plan 2019-2023

REACH-IT closed on 4 June

Due to scheduled maintenance REACH IT will be closed from Monday 4 June 2018 at 00:00 (Helsinki time) until Tuesday 5 June 2018 at 10:00 (Helsinki time).

During this time, you will not be able to access REACH-IT.

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May issue of the ECHA Newsletter online

The May issue tells about the work leading up to the registration deadline on 31 May and gives advice to registrants who are having difficulties. You can also read more about the adoption of endocrine disruptor criteria, the restriction proposal for microplastics, the Commission’s remarks on the second REACH review and EU-OSHA’s recently launched ‘Healthy Workplaces’ campaign on managing dangerous substances.

 Online newsletter | Read the PDF

To submit an inquiry, you need to prepare a IUCLID inquiry dossier. When preparing the dossier, pay attention to the substance identity information. This information should clearly describe the manufactured or imported substance.

Potential registrants need to wait for the result of the inquiry before submitting the registration.

Watch our step-by-step video tutorial on how to prepare an inquiry dossier.

Tutorial

Are you a member registrant? Join our guided dossier preparation training

We still have a few places left for our online guided dossier preparation training where you can follow step-by-step how to prepare and submit your dossier online using REACH-IT. If you are interested in joining, make sure you familiarise yourself with the requirements and register.

Register | Conditions and minimum data requirements

Estimate your registration fee with the IUCLID fee calculator

Before submitting your dossier in REACH-IT, we advise you to run the IUCLID fee calculator. It allows you to estimate the fee to be paid for your registration dossier based on your company size, tonnage band and confidentiality claims. Use it before submitting and make sure that:
 

• you register in the right tonnage band; and
• you don’t have any unwanted confidentiality claims.

Our tutorial shows how to use the calculator.

IUCLID tutorial

REACH 2018 registrants: get support through our online chat

From 18 to 31 May, ECHA staff will be on call to help you register your substance successfully under REACH.

To use the chat function:
 

1. Access online chat.
2. Give your name and email address and click 'Join now'. You will be able to get assistance and answers to your questions from our panellist ‘ECHA Support 2018’.

We aim to answer you on the spot. If more time is needed to consider and provide information, we will let you know. ECHA’s support chat is available on weekdays from 10:00 to 17:00 (Helsinki time).

ECHA REACH 2018 Support | News

Application cut-off date for DCG solutions extended until 30 May

Given the high interest of registrants in applying for the solutions offered by the Director’s Contact Group (DCG), the cut-off date to submit an application for a DCG solution has been extended until the 30 May.

If you are in an exceptional situation with your registration, for example, if the lead registrant or your EU supplier will not register your substance, you should apply for a DCG solution as soon as possible.

Keep in mind that after applying for a DCG solution you will still need to submit a registration dossier before the deadline of 31 May 2018 so applying early is crucial. Have a look at all the eight scenarios when you can get help through the DCG solutions.

DCG issues

Lead registrant list now easier to access

The lead registrant list now has an individual web address, which makes it easier to find. The list can also be accessed, as usual, from the REACH registration statistics infographic.

Lead registrants list | Download list (xls) | Registration statistics

Intention submitted to review a request for a derogation to existing restriction of perfluorooctanoic acid, its salts and precursors

ECHA submitted an intention to review a derogation request from AstraZeneca on 16 May for submission on 20 June 2018. The request covers the import and use for pharmaceutical products for the treatment of pulmonar diseases.

Registry of restriction intentions

Call for evidence: restriction of skin sensitising, irritative and/or corrosive substances

The Swedish and French competent authorities are jointly preparing an Annex XV restriction dossier according to Article 69 of REACH on the use of skin sensitising, irritative and/or corrosive substances in textile and leather articles, hides and furs.

Interested parties are invited to submit any information related to these substances to help with the preparation of the dossier.

The deadline for providing comments is 3 August 2018 (23:59 Helsinki time).

Current calls for comments and evidence

New substance evaluation conclusion published

One new substance evaluation conclusion document is now available on ECHA’s website for benzophenone (EC 204-337-6, CAS 119-61-9), added to the CoRAP list in 2013 and evaluated by Denmark.

Community rolling action plan | Substance evaluation

Further substances assessed by authorities

The public activities coordination tool (PACT) has been updated with information on eight substances that are undergoing hazard assessment or risk management option analysis by authorities.

Public activities coordination tool

• (R)-p-mentha-1,8-diene; d-limonene (EC 227-813-5; CAS 5989-27-5). An industrial chemical used in various consumer and professional products like washing and cleaning products, fragrances, air care products, polishes and waxes and as a solvent for the manufacturing of articles. It is also one of the three main constituents in an active substance used in a plant protection product (terpenoid blend “QRD460”) as an insecticide and is a natural component of some fruits, plants and trees. It has an existing harmonised classification and labelling as part of a group entry in Annex VI to CLP. Comments are invited on skin sensitisation, aspiration hazard and hazards to the aquatic environment classes.
• p-mentha-1,3-diene; 1-isopropyl-4-methylcyclohexa-1,3-diene; alpha-terpinene (EC 202-795-1; CAS 99-86-5). Also used in various consumer and professional products like washing & cleaning products, fragrances, air care products, polishes and waxes. It is also one of the three main constituents in an active substance used in a plant protection product (terpenoid blend “QRD460”) as an insecticide. It has no existing harmonised classification and labelling in Annex VI to CLP. Comments are invited on flammable liquids, acute toxicity – oral, skin sensitisation, germ cell mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, aspiration hazard, and hazards to the aquatic environment classes.
• 1-isopropyl-4-methylbenzene; p-cymene (EC 202-796-7; CAS 99-87-6). A chemical intermediate and one of the three main constituents in an active substance used in a plant protection product (terpenoid blend “QRD460”) as an insecticide. It has no existing harmonised classification and labelling in Annex VI to CLP. Comments are invited on the hazard classes flammable liquids, acute toxicity, skin corrosion/irritation, skin sensitisation, germ cell mutagenicity, STOT SE, STOT RE, aspiration hazard, and hazards to the aquatic environment classes.

• 4-methylimidazole (EC 212-497-3, CAS 822-36-6); and
• bisphenol A; 4,4’-isopropylidenediphenol (EC 201-245-8, CAS 80-05-7).

Biocides IT tools updated

The latest version of the biocides submission tool R4BP 3 provides improved workflows and notification systems. The new features include:
 

• improved search filters with automatically saved results;
• the option to save applications as drafts;
• improved application wizards and more informative error messages; and
• a warning message alerting a user making an application for mutual recognition if that product has already been authorised in the same market area.

The updated SPC Editor makes it easier to compare summaries of product characteristics (SPCs).

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Webinar: endocrine disruptors and biocides - what you need to know
19 June, 11:00 – 13:00 (Helsinki time)

The criteria for identifying endocrine disrupting properties for biocides apply from 7 June. This webinar explains the scope of the criteria and how authorities are using them to assess biocides. We also go through the main advice in the newly published guidance on endocrine disruptors and you have the chance to ask questions from our experts.

Register