ECHA Weekly - 13 March 2019

One project focuses on treated articles and chemical mixtures for consumer and professional uses under the Biocidal Products Regulation. The other targets REACH and CLP obligations for imported products and is performed in cooperation with customs authorities.

News release | Enforcement projects

REACH

Court annuls the Commission’s authorisation decision for the uses of lead chromates yellow and red

On 7 March 2019, the General Court of the European Court of Justice issued a judgment annulling the Commission’s decision granting an authorisation for some uses of lead sulfochromate yellow and of lead chromate molybdate sulphate red. The decision was based on opinions made by ECHA’s committees for risk assessment and for socioeconomic analysis. Sweden challenged the validity of the Commission’s decision on a number of grounds.

The Court upheld Sweden’s plea that the Commission made an error during its examination of the absence of alternatives. The judgment indicates that the burden of proof is on the applicant for authorisation to show that there are no suitable alternatives for its uses. The Commission had however granted the authorisation without sufficiently verifying all available information to determine that the applicant had satisfied this burden of proof. The absence of such detailed examination means that no authorisation should have been granted.

The Commission and the Agency are now analysing this judgment

Case T-837/16 Sweden v Commission (available in French)

Information session: public consultation on microplastics restriction

3 April, 11:00 – 12:30 Helsinki Time (GMT +2)

ECHA’s microplastics restriction proposal was submitted to our scientific committees on 11 January 2019 for conformity check. If it passes the check, a six-month public consultation on the proposal will start on 20 March 2019. Our info session on 3 April 2019 clarifies the content of the proposal and how you can contribute through the public consultation.

The session is intended for anyone either directly or indirectly affected by the proposed restriction. You will have a chance to ask questions from our live panel of experts. Note: if the proposal does not pass the conformity check, this session will be cancelled.

Register | More

Three proposals to identify new substances of very high concern (SVHCs)

The proposals are for the following substances:

• 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)propanoic acid, its salts and its acyl halides (covering any of their individual isomers and combinations thereof) (EC -, CAS -). The substances are used as a processing aid in the production of fluorinated polymers.
• 2-methoxy ethyl acetate (EC 203-772-9, CAS 110-49-6). The substance is not registered under REACH.
• Tris(4-nonylphenyl, branched and linear) phosphite (TNPP) with ≥0.1 % w/w of 4-nonylphenol, branched and linear (4-NP) (EC -, CAS -). TNPP is primarily used as an antioxidant to stabilise polymers.

The deadline for comments is 29 April 2019.

Participate in the public consultation

Applying non-animal strategies for assessing skin sensitisation

ECHA hosted a workshop on 7 and 8 February on the progress made in non-animal testing strategies for assessing skin sensitisation. The workshop was co-organised by the European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing (EPAA), Cefic's Long-range Research Initiative (Cefic-LRI) and the International Fragrance Association (IFRA). Take a look at the outcomes of the workshop.

Flash report | Video

Committees’ opinion on one application for authorisation available

The consolidated opinion of the Committees for Risk Assessment and Socio-economic Analysis for one use of chromium trioxide (EC 215-607-8, CAS 1333-82-0) by MAHLE Ventiltrieb GmbH and MAHLE Polska Sp. z o.o. is available on our website.

Opinion

CLP

New proposal to harmonise classification and labelling

A proposal was submitted for:

• 2,6-dichloro-N-[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridylmethyl]benzamide (EC number: 607-285-6, CAS number: 239110-15-7) by Austria.
   

Registry of CLH intentions

ECHA

Revised policy for avoiding conflicts of interest published

Managing potential conflict of interest situations is a key element of ECHA's governance and crucial for maintaining the trust of stakeholders and citizens in the integrity of the Agency. To further strengthen the measures in place, ECHA’s Management Board has adopted a revised policy for avoiding any conflict of interest situations.

The policy applies to the whole Agency and all its activities, both administrative and scientific. The scope covers all members, their advisers and invited experts of ECHA bodies, observers at their meetings, and statutory staff of the ECHA Secretariat.

Revised policy