The Article 95 list of active biocidal substance and product suppliers becomes enforceable

Companies making available on the market biocidal products had to ensure that either their substance or product suppliers or themselves are included in the Article 95 list under the Biocidal Products Regulation by 1 September 2015.

News alert | List of active substances and suppliers

Are you ready for REACH 2018? 1 000 days until the deadline

Tomorrow it will be 1 000 days until the last REACH registration deadline, which concerns companies that manufacture or import chemicals between 1-100 tonnes a year. Does the deadline affect you? If it does, now is the time to start preparing. First have a look at our support material online – most available in 23 languages.

REACH 2018 pages | Registration support | Know your portfolio webinar |Material for media

ECHA launches a public consultation on seven proposals to identify new substances of very high concern (SVHCs)

The substances proposed to be identified and examples of their uses are:

• 1,3-propanesultone (EC 214-317-9): electrolyte fluid of lithium ion batteries.
• UV-327 (EC 223-383-8) and UV-350 (EC 253-037-1): UV-protection agents in coatings, plastics, rubber and cosmetics.
• Dicyclohexyl phthalate (EC 201-545-9): plastisol and in PVC, rubber and plastic articles, and as a phlegmatiser and dispersing agent for formulations of organic peroxides.
• Hexamethylene diacrylate (EC 235-921-9): manufacturing formulations of coatings and inks and as a cross linking agent in polymerisation processes in the production of resins, rubbers and polymers.
• Nitrobenzene (EC 202-716-0): production of chemicals and as a processing aid.
• Perfluorononan-1-oic acid and its sodium and ammonium salts (group entry) (EC 206-801-3): a processing aid for fluoropolymer manufacture, and also as a lubricating oil additive, surfactant for fire extinguishers, cleaning agent, textile antifouling finishing agent, polishing surfactant, waterproofing agents and in liquid crystal display panels.

Current consultations

Minutes of Committee meetings now available

The final minutes of the 33rd meeting of the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) and the 27th meeting of the Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) are now available on our website.

RAC-33 minutes | SEAC-27 minutes

How to get started with EU chemicals legislation

ECHA has published new support pages and an introductory guide helping companies which are not yet familiar with the European chemicals legislation to understand their obligations. The web pages provide easy step-by-step information in 23 EU languages for manufacturers, importers, distributors and users of chemicals as well as only representatives. There is also information for companies using biocides or trading hazardous chemicals.

The guide is especially useful for small and medium-sized enterprises. It gives an overview oislation and how to get started in understanf the EU chemicals legding it and complying with it. The publication provides links to potential EU and national funding for companies and lists useful sources of information. You can help us reach out to new companies by sharing this information.

News item | Getting started pages | Chemical safety in your business - introduction for SMEs (PDF EN)

ECHA webinar: Why opt for substitution?

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

The webinar includes a case study from COOP Denmark, one of the largest Danish retailers, who will explain how they have used substitution in their own products and packaging. Dr Karla Pfaff from the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) will present their role in monitoring a voluntary agreement made by the entire value chain for plasticisers used for certain types of adhesive packaging in Germany. The webinar will conclude with Dr Joel Tickner from the University of Massachusetts Lowell who will present the U.S. approach to substitution and share some practical advice for companies planning to substitute.

This webinar series gives practical information and examples for companies planning to opt for substitution and gives them the unique opportunity to ask questions from other companies and authorities that are directly involved in the substitution process.

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