SEAC concludes on Bisphenol A, DecaBDE and PFOA restrictions and finalises two opinions for authorisation

The Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) agreed its draft opinion on the French proposal to restrict the placing on the market of thermal paper containing Bisphenol A (4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol, BPA) (EC. 201-245-8).

SEAC also adopted its final opinion on ECHA's proposal to restrict the use of DecaBDE (bis(pentabromophenyl)ether) (EC. 214-604-9) as a flame retardant in plastics and textiles, confirming its draft opinion of June 2015.

The Committee also agreed its draft opinion, in support of the proposal by Germany and Norway, to restrict the manufacture, marketing and use of pentadecafluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (EC. 206-397-9), its salts and PFOA-related substances, as well as of articles and mixtures containing these substances.

SEAC also finalised two opinions for authorisation on trichloroethylene (EC. 201-167-4) and lead chromate (EC. 231-846-0).

News alert

RAC concludes on PFOA restriction

The Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) adopted its opinion in support of the proposal by Germany and Norway to restrict the manufacture, marketing and use of pentadecafluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (EC. 206-397-9), its salts and PFOA-related substances, as well as of articles and mixtures containing these substances.

RAC also finalised two opinions for authorisation, and adopted six opinions on harmonised classification and labelling.

News alert | Annex

Public consultations on SEAC's draft opinions on restricting Bisphenol A, and PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related substances

Stakeholders are invited to comment the draft opinions of the Committee for Socio-economic Analysis (SEAC) concerning the restriction proposals on Bisphenol A (4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol, BPA, EC 201-245-8), and pentadecafluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, EC 206-397-9), its salts and PFOA-related substances. These two public consultations are open from 16 September to 16 November 2015. The public consultation on PFOA includes one specific question.

Submitted restrictions under consideration

Notify ECHA of your uses covered by a REACH authorisation

If you use a substance for which an actor up your supply chain has an authorisation, you have to notify your use of that substance to ECHA. There is now a webform available for this.

News alert | Article 66 web page

Registry of Intentions updated

Harmonised classification and labelling

A new intention for harmonised classification and labelling for imiprothrin (ISO) (EC 428-790-6) was added to the Registry of Intentions.

Five intentions were withdrawn from the Registry of Intentions. These are: diphenylamine (EC 204-539-4), Zineb (EC 235-180-1), Picoxystrobin (CAS 117428-22-5), Fluquinconazole (EC 411-960-9) and butane-1,4-diamine (Putrescine) (EC 203-782-3).

Current CLH intentions

ECHA website user research kicking off - have your say!

As part of the research, we are launching an online usability test. It aims to find out how you find the information on our website. After the test, you will have the possibility to leave your email address to take part in further testing.

This online test will take around 15 minutes to complete.

Help us make the website more user friendly for you. You can participate by clicking the link below.

ECHA website user study

Let us know what you think of our news products

Last week, we invited you to participate in our annual news readership survey asking for your feedback on our e-News and Newsletter. Now is your chance to give us your views and help us improve our news services.

You will each have received an individual email to your inbox with a link to the survey. However, if you are subscribed to our news but have not yet received the link, please let us know at: surveys@echa.europa.eu.

The survey will stay open until 28 September 2015.

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

Seventh adaptation to technical progress published

The seventh adaptation to technical progress (ATP) has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. It updates the CLP Regulation with classifications for substances for which opinions have been adopted by the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) during 2013.

CLP Legislation | Official Journal of the European Union

Interested in court rulings concerning EU chemicals legislation?

Rulings of the closed cases of the European Court of Justice, to which ECHA has been a party, are now available on ECHA's website. There are two different tables. The first contains all the closed court cases to which ECHA has been a party and the second contains preliminary rulings on the interpretation of legislation affecting ECHA.

Cases where ECHA has been a party | Preliminary rulings

Register now: REACH 2018 webinar 'Find your co-registrants and prepare to work together'

18 November 2015, 11:00 - 12:00, Helsinki (EEST, GMT +3)

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: Why opt for substitution?

22 September 2015, 11:00 – 12:30, Helsinki (EEST, GMT +3)

This is the first webinar in a series giving practical information and examples for companies planning to opt for substitution of hazardous chemicals with safer alternatives.

The webinar will include case studies from COOP Denmark, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and the University of Massachusetts Lowell. You will have the opportunity to submit questions in writing during the event. Check the programme and register in time to secure your place.

Webinar page | Agenda | Register

ECHA webinar: Downstream user update

21 October 2015, 11:00 - 12:30, Helsinki (EEST, GMT +3)

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

Topical Scientific Workshop on New Approach Methodologies in Regulatory Science

19-20 April 2016, Helsinki

This workshop will explore the potential regulatory benefits arising from fundamental change in scientific thinking to try to better understand the underlying biology behind how chemicals cause adverse effects to human health. The workshop will also look at new tools and techniques that provide a huge amount of data that can be used in solving regulatory issues.

Participation in the workshop is by invitation only. If you would like to participate, you are invited to complete the expressions of interest form by 20 September 2015. Official invitations are expected to be sent in November 2015. For further information, you can contact: scientificevents@echa.europa.eu.

Event page | Expressions of interest