Chemical compliance… what’s happening?

What’s happening with regard to chemical regulations internationally? Here are some updates we’ve prepared for you for July 2022.

One new substance on the REACH Candidate List

N-(hydroxymethyl)acrylamide has been added to the Candidate List of substances of very high concern for Authorisation. The list currently contains 224 entries for hazardous chemicals.

N-(hydroxymethyl)acrylamide (CAS number 924-42-5) is on the list due to its carcinogenic and mutagenic properties.

It is used, for example, in polymers, and in the production of other chemicals, paints and coatings, as well as in textiles, leather or fur.

What does it mean for companies that use this substance?

European producers and suppliers of articles containing the substance above a concentration of 0.1% (weight by weight) must:

inform their customers of its presence, provide sufficient information on safe use, and notify ECHA (REACH Regulation)
submit a notification to ECHA’s database of substances of concern in products, SCIP (Waste Framework Directive)

The substance may be placed on the Authorisation List in the future. If so, its use will be prohibited unless a company obtains authorisation for its use from the European Commission.

Hazardous chemicals for further risk management

Around 300 of 1,900 chemicals assessed by ECHA in 2021 could require immediate risk management measures, according to ECHA’s fourth report under its Integrated Regulatory Strategy, which was released in June.

In order to confirm the hazards and appropriate measures, companies are invited to proactively update their registrations with up-to-date information to avoid regulatory actions being planned based on outdated data.

Some of these chemicals will need to be restricted and have already been included in the European Commission’s Restrictions Roadmap, which we introduced in the previous issue of Compass (see article here).

An increase in harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) is also anticipated as this is often an early step in risk management.

Consultations and legislative initiatives

REACH

Restriction proposals

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Deadline: 23/09/2022
N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC); 1-ethylpyrrolidin-2-one (NEP). Deadline: 20/12/2022
Terphenyl, hydrogenated. Deadline: 20/12/2022
Call for evidence on skin sensitisers in consumer mixtures. Deadline: 30/09/2022

CLP

Harmonised classification and labelling consultations

10 CLH consultations ongoing on various substances