News

Roadmap to address substances of very high concern complete

As part of the SVHC 2020 Roadmap launched by the Council of the EU in 2013, all relevant, currently known substances of very high concern have been identified and included on the Candidate List. Systematic screening of registered substances has been key in identifying new chemicals of concern.

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REACH

Nonylphenol and its ethoxylates restricted in textiles

The restriction started to apply on 3 February 2021 and aims to reduce emissions of nonyphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) to our environment. When clothing and other textile articles containing these chemicals are washed, their residues are released into the environment through wastewater. NPEs are toxic to animals and plants living in our surface waters.

The restriction will prevent 15 tonnes of NPEs from being released each year to surface waters and will reduce pressure on biodiversity.

Conditions of the restriction

Updated: Advice on how to include substitution plans to authorisation applications

The updated How to apply for authorisation guide reflects the changes made to the guidance on applications for authorisation, which was published in January. It explains how applicants are required to include a substitution plan in their applications if the analysis of alternatives shows that suitable alternatives are available in the EU.

How to apply for authorisation | Guidance update news

CLP

Consultation on harmonised classification and labelling

ECHA is looking for comments on the harmonised classification and labelling proposals for:

hexyl salicylate (EC 228-408-6; CAS 6259-76-3);
2,2'-[[3-methyl-4-[(4-nitrophenyl)azo]phenyl]imino]bisethanol (EC 221-665-5; CAS 3179-89-3);
4-methylimidazole (EC 212-497-3; CAS 822-36-6);
benthiavalicarb-isopropyl (ISO); isopropyl [(S)-1-{[(R)-1-(6-fluoro-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)ethyl]carbamoyl}-2-methylpropyl]carbamate (CAS 177406-68-7); and
3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluorooctan-1-ol (EC 211-477-1; CAS 647-42-7).

The deadline for comments is 9 April 2021.

Give comments

Biocides

Environmental TAB published

We have added new entries to the Technical Agreements for Biocides (TAB) for the Environment. The TAB collects general agreements of the working groups of the Biocidal Products Committee that are not yet included in any related guidance.

Read the preface of the TAB document for important information on the applicability dates. As the TAB document is now automatically generated from a database, it is not possible to remove the applicability dates.

TAB document | Working groups of BPC

IT tools

REACH-IT updated with new features

The co-registrants page has a new section called 'Studies' that lists the contact details of submitters. ECHA will no longer provide summaries of studies submitted more than 12 years ago. Instead, the IUCLID study records (UUIDs) are displayed and inquirers should contact submitters to receive data.

In addition, the joint submission page has a new section called 'ECHA Dossier Evaluation status' that includes information about compliance checks and testing proposal examinations. Contact ECHA if you suspect that the information is not accurate.

You can also now claim confidentiality on the characterisation parameters of nanoforms in IUCLID section 1.2, in accordance with Article 119(2)(d) of REACH.

ECHA will organise a webinar on the new REACH-IT features. Details on how to sign up will be published later.

Webinar | REACH-IT | IUCLID

Missed our webinar introducing Chesar 3.6?

The recording, presentations and Q&A are available on our website.

The webinar described the new functionalities of Chesar 3.6, focusing on the implementation of a set of harmonised conditions of use for workers’ assessments.

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Board of Appeal

Appeal against a testing proposal decision dismissed

Case A-015-2019 concerned ECHA’s decision on a testing proposal for hexahydro-4-methylphthalic anhydride that required the appellant to carry out an extended one-generation reproductive toxicity study (EOGRTS), including cohort 3.

The Board of Appeal rejected the appellant’s arguments that ECHA made errors of assessment regarding the necessity of the EOGRTS and the inclusion of cohort 3 in that study. The claim that ECHA breached the requirements of REACH regarding the third-party consultation on the testing proposal was also rejected.

The appellant is now required to submit information on the EOGRTS by 20 February 2023.

Decision