Chemical compliance… what’s happening?

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

SCIP Database on Hazardous Chemicals in Products Published by ECHA

ECHA has published the data on substances of very high concern (SVHC) in products – the SCIP database – which comes from over four million SCIP notifications submitted by around 6,000 European companies supplying articles containing Candidate List SVHCs on the EU market.

As highlighted in ECHA’s press release, the most commonly notified product categories are machinery, measuring instruments, electronic equipment, vehicles and the respective parts, rubber products and furniture. The most common SVHCs in notifications are:

• lead (e.g. in ball bearings, batteries)
• lead monoxide (e.g. in lamps, vehicle parts)
• lead titanium trioxide (e.g. in electric cookers)
• silicid acid, lead salt (e.g. in lead crystalware, vehicle coatings) and
• “Dechlorane PlusTM” (e.g. in paints, glues)

The SCIP database is searchable by product category, product name or brand, type of material or the chemical name. ECHA’s video tutorial explains its functionalities.

It is expected that this public database, which will be updated as more notifications come in, will support consumers in making safer and more informed choices, as well as waste operators in their re-use and recycling activities.

Virginijus Sinkevičius, EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, shared his thoughts on the database: “The launch of the database is a true milestone in bringing transparency about chemicals of concern in products. This wealth of information will be of great value to all, especially consumers, waste operators, and policy-makers. It will enhance the delivery of safe and clean products and secondary materials, fully in line with the priorities on re-use and recycling defined in the EU waste legislation.”

Titanium Dioxide: New Classification & Labelling Requirements as of 1 October 2021

New classification and labelling requirements for Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) enter into force in October:

• Classification as carcinogen if inhaled (Carc. 2, H351 (inhalation) when supplied on its own or in mixtures, where the substance or mixture contains 1 % or more of TiO2 particles with an aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm.
• Supplemental label element ‘Hazardous respirable dust may be formed when used. Do not breathe dust’ (EUH212) is required for solid mixtures containing at least 1 % of TiO2, regardless of their form or particle size.
• Liquid mixtures containing at least 1% of TiO2 particles with an aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm need to be labelled with the supplemental label element ‘Hazardous respirable droplets may be formed when sprayed. Do not breathe spray or mist’ (EUH211). They do not require Carc. 2 classification.

A new Guide on the classification and labelling of titanium dioxide has been prepared by ECHA, in cooperation with the national authorities (German’s BAuA and HelpNet), to help companies comply with the requirements.

If you have any questions on the SCIP database or the new CLP requirements, please contact us.