Piperonyl butoxide (PBO) is a biocidal active substance

Piperonyl butoxide (PBO) is to be considered as a biocidal active substance and not merely as a synergist or co-formulant. All provisions applicable to a biocidal active substance will apply to PBO. As a consequence, from 1 September 2015, biocidal products containing PBO can only remain on the EU market if the PBO source is listed on ECHA's Article 95 list.

The decision on PBO was made at the meeting of representatives of Member State competent authorities for the implementation of the Biocidal Products Regulation in March 2015, following the conclusions of the Biocidal Products Committee in December 2014.

Article 95 list

Call for evidence for musk xylene and 4,4'-Diaminodiphenyl
methane (MDA)

ECHA has launched calls for evidence on the conclusions of two Annex XV restriction reports it has produced documenting that no restriction will be proposed.

This follows an assessment of the two substances triggered by the requirements of Article 69(2) of REACH. Interested parties are invited to respond by 15 July 2015.

Calls for comments and evidence

Flash report on skin sensitisation workshop now published

A flash report from the latest CEFIC-LRI/EPAA/Cosmetics Europe workshop on skin sensitisation hosted in Helsinki by the ECHA on 23-24 April 2015 is now available on Cefic's website.

Flash report

New features in the chemicals' database

Did you know that you can find information about all biocides active substance and product type combinations in the database? New features in the database are:

Biocidal active substances
You can now see all the active substances for which approval has either been granted or sought. A new "Summary" feature has been added, which gives an overview of all the substance and product type combinations approved or pending approval. New search filters, which allow filtering by approval status and IUPAC name, have also been added to those substance and product type combinations still pending approval.

In addition, export functionalities have been included in the search result and summary table for biocidal active substances, and in the search result table for authorised biocidal products.

REACH registered substances
A new export functionality has been added to the search result table. In addition, to provide an overview of the registration of new substances over time, a new search filter allows searches by the first published date of substance datasets.

EC inventory of substances
A new export functionality enables easier use of the EC inventory list of substances.

Prior Informed Consent (PIC)
A new export functionality has been added to the various summaries of imports and exports.

Information on chemicals

Co-opted members of RAC and SEAC:  call for expression of interests

- Experts in occupational hygiene and chemical exposure assessment
- Experts in socio-economic analysis

(Deadline: 4 June 2015, 12:00pm)

The Agency's Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) and the Committee for Socio-economic Analysis (SEAC) are tasked to prepare and adopt opinions on applications for authorisations as set out in Title VII of the REACH Regulation.

The Agency foresees a peak workload on evaluating applications for authorisation from late 2015 through to 2016. It is therefore opening a call for co-opted members for RAC and SEAC. Applicants should express their interest on ECHA's website by 4 June 2015.

Call for expressions of interest | News alert

Exchange Network on Exposure Scenarios meets in Helsinki on 20-21 May

20-21 May 2015, Helsinki

ENES8 will report on the latest developments to provide the tools to improve supply chain communication on uses between downstream users and registrants. The next phase (2015-2016) in the implementation of the CSR/ES Roadmap and its priorities are also on the agenda. The event will be webstreamed and the final programme will be available soon.

ENES 8 web page | Webstream

Material from the Workshop on Substance Brief Profiles now online

At the end of last year, ECHA hosted a workshop with its accredited stakeholders and Member States that focused on the future developments of disseminating information on chemicals. The main points of the discussions as well as the presentations are now available on ECHA's website.

Workshop on Substance Brief Profiles

OECD QSAR Toolbox webinar

17 June 2015, 11:00-13:00 Helsinki (EEST, GMT +3)

The webinar will provide an introduction to the OECD QSAR Toolbox and its functionalities. Two examples will cover endpoints which will be relevant for the REACH registration deadline in 2018 (e.g. skin sensitisation, aquatic toxicity). The Toolbox is the most comprehensive, widely recognised and freely available platform for data gap filling in regulatory hazard assessment, while avoiding tests. It is used for grouping chemicals into categories, identifying and filling (eco-)toxicological data gaps for the hazard assessment of chemicals.

Register | OECD QSAR Toolbox

Seminar on Applications for Authorisation in June

ECHA is organising a seminar in collaboration with Cefic and Eurometaux to improve future applicants' knowledge of the authorisation application procedure. The main topics to be covered include the content requirements for applications, the public consultation on possible alternatives, the analysis of alternatives and socio-economic analysis, as well as the formats, manuals and tools for the application submission.

Register | Seminar on Applications for Authorisation

2015 Helsinki Chemicals Forum

28-29 May 2015, Helsinki

Register to the Helsinki Chemicals Forum taking place from 28 to 29 May. Registration is open until Thursday 21 May. If you are already attending the ECHA Stakeholders' Day conference on 27 May, you are entitled to a reduced fee of 650€. Keynote speakers at the event include Geert Dancet from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), Antti Peltomäki, Deputy Director General and Klaus Berend, Head of Unit from the European Commission. A workshop "The business case for sound chemicals management" will also be organised by Chemical Watch at the end of the event.

The Helsinki Chemicals Forum is an independent forum engaging international authorities, industry leaders, NGOs, academics, the media and other interested parties in an open dialogue on key issues of global relevance regarding chemicals management and the control of chemicals safety.

Further information | Programme | Register

Biocides Stakeholders' Day

1 September 2015, Helsinki

The conference takes place on 1 September, which is the three-year anniversary of the entry into operation of the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR).

The programme will focus on case studies and experiences from companies. There will also be presentations on the regulation and available tools and support.

The day is open to all and the content will be of particular relevance to European and national trade associations, SMEs, large companies, alternative suppliers and environmental as well as health NGOs.

Online registration is open. There are a limited number of places available on a first-come, first-served basis; so register now to ensure yours.

Biocides Stakeholders' Day page | Register