New web platform available on adverse effects of chemicals

The OECD has launched a new Adverse Outcomes Pathway (AOP)-wiki, which is a web-based platform gathering knowledge on how chemicals can induce adverse effects. The platform is a focal point for AOP development and dissemination. Ultimately, it is expected that adopted AOPs will inform the OECD Test Guidelines Programme regarding new in vitro test methods that could become OECD Test Guidelines. They will also contribute to the OECD QSAR Project for the development of new methods/profilers for grouping chemicals and the OECD Hazard Assessment activities for the design of Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA) of chemicals. ECHA contributes to these developments through the relevant OECD working groups.

OECD press release | AOP Wiki

The ECHA Management Board elects a Chair and Deputy Chair

Nina Cromnier has been re-elected as Chair and Karel Blaha has been elected as the new Deputy Chair of the ECHA Management Board.

Additional chapters will follow in late October 2014.

Press release | Management Board

Registry of Intentions updated

CLH

The Registry of Intentions was updated with a new intention. The substance Oxathiapiprolin (ISO, CAS No 1003318-67-9) is expected to be submitted by Ireland on 1 November 2014.

Current CLH intentions

New CLH consultation launched on four substances

ECHA has started a 45-day public commenting period on the harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) proposals for dibutyltin dilaurate, quinolin-8-ol, cyanamide and fipronil.

Dibutyltin dilaurate is mainly used as a catalyst and as a stabiliser for PVC. The substance does not yet have harmonised classification and the dossier submitter, Norway, proposes classification for germ cell mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity and specific target organ toxicity — repeated exposure (immune system).

Quinolin-8-ol; 8-hydroxyquinoline is an active substance in plant protection products which are used to control fungal and bacterial diseases in plants. It is also used as a laboratory reagent. This pesticide does not have an existing harmonised classification and the dossier submitter, Spain, is proposing classification for health and environmental hazards.

Cyanamide is a biocidal and pesticidal active substance and the dossier submitter, Germany, is proposing changes and additions to the current harmonised classification for health and environmental hazards.

Fipronil is an insecticide and has an existing harmonised classification and labelling. The CLH report, submitted by France, proposes modification to the M factor for Aquatic acute classification and addition of the M factor for Aquatic chronic classification. The deadline for submitting comments on the four proposals is 10 November 2014.

Ongoing consultations

Seven substance evaluation cases concluded without draft decisions

Seven out of 47 substance evaluation cases from 2013 are now published. In all of these cases, the evaluating Member State decided not to ask for any further information on the substances and hence no draft decision was prepared. The conclusion documents and the evaluation reports are published on ECHA's website. The conclusion document provides the view of the evaluating Member State on the need for regulatory risk management measures.

The substances are the following: butanone oxime (EC 202-496-6; evaluated by Germany), benzothiazole-2-thiol (EC 205-736-8; Germany), beryllium (EC 231-150-7; Germany), maleic anhydride (EC 203-571-6; Austria), 1,3,5-trioxane (EC 203-812-5; Poland), 1,1´-iminodipropan-2-ol (EC 203-820-9; Czech Republic), and tetrachloroethylene (EC 204-825-9; Latvia).

CoRAP list of substances

Summaries of Board of Appeal final decisions published

In response to feedback from our stakeholders and to ensure that Board of Appeal decisions are accessible to as wide an audience as possible, unofficial, non-binding summaries of the Board of Appeal's main final decisions have been published on ECHA's website. In addition to final decisions and summaries thereof, the Board of Appeal also publishes some of its other procedural decisions concerning applications to intervene and applications for confidentiality.

Final decisions and summaries | Procedural decisions

Thank you for your feedback on our news services

During the course of September, we have been running our annual news readership survey looking for your feedback on our e-News and Newsletter. The survey closed yesterday and we received a record-breaking 2 332 responses. We want to thank those of you who responded and to let you know that we are now assessing the feedback and looking at ways to concretely improve our products. A report of the survey results will be published in the coming weeks.

Mixture classification and communicating safe use of mixtures. Advice for formulators and importers.

5 November 2014, 11:00 – 13:00 Helsinki Time (EEST, GMT +3)

This webinar is about the classification of mixtures and on how information on the safe use of mixtures can be communicated in the supply chain. It aims to help formulators and importers understand and implement their obligations according to the REACH and CLP regulations relating to mixtures.

In anticipation of the 2015 deadline for classifying mixtures according to CLP, this webinar describes the steps a supplier should take to (re)classify mixtures. It also describes how formulators can handle and communicate the information they receive in exposure scenarios for hazardous substances. The related REACH and CLP obligations are outlined and participants are guided to the wide range of support material that is available to help fulfil these obligations.

Register

Give your feedback on the Biocides Stakeholders' Day

24 September 2014

ECHA's second Biocides Stakeholders' Day brought over 150 participants to Helsinki to hear about the latest developments in the implementation of the Biocidal Products Regulation, one year after its entry into operation.

A further 700 followed the event live through web-streaming. All presentations and a video recording of the event are available on the event page of our website. We kindly ask you to give us any feedback you may have on the organisation and content of the event so that we can further improve the concept for next time. To give your feedback, use the link below.

Give us your feedback | Event page