Chemical compliance… what’s happening?

What’s happening with regard to chemical regulations internationally? Here are some updates we’ve prepared for you for June 2021.

Updates on chemical regulations in the UK, Canada and California

More than 8,000 companies have successfully transferred their registrations from the UK to the EU. The onus is now on them to review and update their registrations. Registrants will have up to three months to update any basic administrative information – with more complex matters to be sorted out in six, nine or twelve months as necessary.

Across the pond, Canada has taken steps to update the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (Cepa), the first major reform in 20 years. The changes include:

• Implementing a new regime for toxic substances that pose the highest risk
• Supporting a shift to less harmful chemicals through the establishment of a watchlist of chemicals that may become toxic if exposure is to increase
• Creating a new plan of chemicals management priorities

Finally, California has proposed new regulations to limit the use of “Short Form” prop 65 warnings. Short form warnings require less information regarding potential risks, instead providing a link to a website, and they do not require the naming of any specific chemicals found in the product.

The new regulations should greatly increase the use of long form warnings, giving consumers a better idea of the risks associated with a wide range of products.

ECHA’s Integrated Regulatory Strategy and authorisation list

In the third report on its Integrated Regulatory Strategy, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has reviewed its activities in 2020.

A total of 1,900 registered chemicals were assessed by the agency, 290 of which may be candidates for further regulatory risk management if their hazards are confirmed.

ECHA recommends that Member States ensure adequate resources and initiate regulatory risk management without delay for substances that require further action and intensify collaboration between states to maximise the success of their work.

Furthermore, industry should make more use of already developed programmes to review and update data in their REACH registry proactively – instead of waiting on regulatory action to be taken by Member States.

Additionally, ECHA recommended to the European Commission that seven substances should be added to the REACH Authorisation List. The decision on the addition of substances of very high concern (SVHC) will be taken by the European Commission together with the Member States and the Parliament.

Once added to the list, companies will need to apply for authorisation to continue using the following substances:

• Three cyclosiloxanes (D4, D5, D6)
• Terphenyl, hydrogenated
• DCHP, disodium octaborate and TMA

Read the Press Release on the Integrated Regulatory Strategy here.

Read the Press Release on the addition to the Authorisation List here.

Please contact us for more information.