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ECHA Published the First Assessments of Regulatory Needs for Groups of Chemicals (December 7, 2021)
ECHA and Member States have been assessing the regulatory needs of groups of substances in an effort to speed up regulatory action on chemicals of concern, protecting people and the environment, and avoiding regrettable substitution. On December 7, 2021, the first assessments cover over 450 substances in 19 groups have been published. (Read more)
ECHA: Majority of Inspected Products Sold Online Breach EU Chemicals Laws (December 8, 2021)
Enforcement authorities have carried out inspections of nearly 6 000 products covered REACH, the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) and the Biocidal Products (BPR) regulations. For REACH, inspections focused on restricted chemicals and found that 78 % of checked products were non-compliant. The products included both professional and consumer products and articles including, for example, textiles, leather, childcare articles, toys and jewelry. (Read more)
ECHA: Scientific Committees Support Further Restrictions of PFAS (December 9, 2021)
On December 9, 2021, the Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) has adopted its final opinion on Germany’s proposal to restrict undecafluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), its salts and related substances. This follows an earlier opinion by the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) in June 2021 to restrict these substances that are very persistent and mobile in the environment and can damage the human reproductive system. (Read more)
EU Exports of Hazardous Chemicals Increase while Imports Continue to Decrease (December 13, 2021)
The latest annual report on exports and imports under the PIC Regulation shows that EU exporters have reported an 8 % increase in their exports of certain chemicals banned or restricted in the EU. This breaks the trend of the previous two years where exports of these chemicals regulated under the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Regulation decreased. The total amount of imports has decreased for the second year in a row. (Read more)
The United States
EPA Takes Critical Step Towards Strengthening Science Used in Chemical Risk Evaluations (December 21, 2021)
On December 21, 2021, in support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to making evidence-based decisions and developing policies and programs that are guided by the best available scientific data, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a draft Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Systematic Review Protocol. The protocol will strengthen EPA’s approach to reviewing and selecting the scientific studies that are used to inform TSCA chemical risk evaluations and ensure that EPA has the best tools under TSCA to protect human health and the environment. (Read more)
EPA Expands TRI Reporting Requirements for Ethylene Oxide and Ethylene Glycol by Requiring Reporting for 29 Sterilization Facilities (December 28, 2021)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking action to expand the scope of Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) reporting requirements to include certain contract sterilization facilities that are not currently reporting on ethylene oxide (EtO) releases. (Read more)
EPA Releases Draft Revised Risk Determination for HBCD for Public Comment (December 29, 2021)
On December 29, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released for public comment a draft revision to the risk determination for cyclic aliphatic bromide cluster (HBCD) pursuant to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) section 6(b). HBCD is primarily used as an additive in building insulation, solder paste, recycled plastics, and automobile replacement parts. When final, the revised risk determination will better align with objectives of protecting health and the environment under the amended TSCA. (Read more)
EPA Releases Draft Scope Document for Part Two of Asbestos Risk Evaluation (December 30, 2021)
EPA is asking for public input on the draft scope document for the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Risk Evaluation for Asbestos Part 2: Supplemental Evaluation Including Legacy Uses and Associated Disposals of Asbestos. In this risk evaluation, EPA will evaluate the conditions of use of asbestos excluded from the part 1 asbestos risk evaluation that was completed in December 2020. (Read more)
Canada
Canada Published the Draft Screening Assessment for Acids and Bases Group (December 4, 2021)
On December 4, 2021, Canada published the Draft Screening Assessment for Acids and Bases Group for a 60-day public comment period ending on February 2, 2022. These substances were identified for action under the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP). The screening assessment focuses on 22 of 24 substances referred to collectively as the Acids and Bases Group. (Read more)
Canada Published the Chemicals Management Plan Implementation Table for 2021 – 2024 (December 17, 2021)
On December 17, 2021, Canada published the Chemicals Management Plan implementation table for 2021 – 2024, concerning Regulatory regime of Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999), Food and Drug Act (F&DA) and Food and Drug Regulations (FDR), Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCSPA) and Cosmetic Regulations under the F&DA and Pest Control Products Act (PCPA). (Read more)
