Latest chemicals news for Northern Ireland - updated 5 March 2025.
5 March 2025 - CLP update
Consultations on harmonised classification and labelling
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) are looking for comments on the harmonised classification and labelling proposal for:
- trimagnesium diphosphide; magnesium phosphide (EC 235-023-7, CAS 12057-74-8)
- aluminium phosphide (EC 244-088-0, CAS 20859-73-8)
Have your say until 2 May 2025.
For more information please see the following link:
5 March 2025 - REACH update
New proposals to identify substances of very high concern
ECHA have published three proposals to identify substances of very high concern. The substances and examples of their uses are:
- 1,1,1,3,5,5,5-heptamethyl-3-[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]trisiloxane (EC 241-867-7, CAS 17928-28-8) - used as a laboratory reagent and in cosmetics/personal care products
- decamethyltetrasiloxane (EC 205-491-7, CAS 141-62-8) - used in lubricants and greases and in automotive care products
- tetra(sodium/potassium) 7-[(E)-{2-acetamido-4-[(E)-(4-{[4-chloro-6-({2-[(4-fluoro-6-{[4-(vinylsulfonyl)phenyl]amino}-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl)amino]propyl}amino)-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl]amino}-5-sulfonato-1-naphthyl)diazenyl]-5-methoxyphenyl}diazenyl]-1,3,6-naphthalenetrisulfonate; Reactive Brown 51 (EC 466-490-7, CAS -) -used in textile treatment products and dyes
Have your say until 14 April 2025.
For more information please see the following link:
26 February 2025 - CLP update
Consultation on harmonised classification and labelling
ECHA are looking for comments on the harmonised classification and labelling proposal for:
- N,N-dicyclohexylbenzothiazole-2-sulphenamide (EC 225-625-8, CAS 4979-32-2)
Have your say by 22 April 2025:
26 February 2025 - REACH update
Workshop to discuss the roadmap to phase out animal testing
On 16-17 June 2025, the European Commission and ECHA will jointly organise a third workshop to discuss elements of the roadmap to phase out animal testing for chemical safety assessments. The purpose is to present proposed recommendations of the roadmap for stakeholder consultation.
Contribute to this important discussion by joining at ECHA or remotely.
You can register until 15 May 2025 to attend this free-of-charge event at ECHA`s premises in Helsinki. No registration is needed if you follow the workshop's plenary sessions online:
12 February 2025 - REACH update
Consultations on applications for authorisation
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) have launched consultations on seven applications for authorisation covering six uses of Chromium trioxide (EC 215-607-8, CAS 1333-82-0) and one use of Chromic acid (EC 231-801-5, CAS 7738-94-5) used for hard chrome plating, functional chrome plating, and surface treatment.
Have your say by using a webform until 9 April 2025.
For more information see the following link:
12 February 2025 - CLP update
Consultation on harmonised classification and labelling
ECHA are looking for comments on the harmonised classification and labelling proposal for:
- napropamide (ISO); (2RS)-N,N-diethyl-2-(1-naphthyloxy)propanamide (EC 239-333-3, CAS 15299-99-7)
Have your say until 11 April 2025.
For more information see the following link:
29 January 2025 - CLP update
Consultation on harmonised classification and labelling
We are looking for comments on the harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) proposal for:
- 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylindeno[5,6-c]pyran; [galaxolide]; [HHCB] (EC 214-946-9, CAS 1222-05-5)
Have your say until 28 March 2025:
29 January 2025 - REACH update
Corrigendum: Testing proposals
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) launched 25 new consultations on testing proposals last week.
The correct deadline for submitting comments is 10 March 2025 (instead of 7 March, as indicated in our last bulletin).
For more information see the following link:
11 December - CLP update
Revised rules for classification, labelling and packaging enter into force
The updated Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation started to apply on 10 December 2024. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) encourage companies to review their substance portfolios and update classifications as needed.
The updated CLP Regulation aims to better identify and classify hazardous chemicals, as well as improve the communication on chemical hazards.
For more information see the following link:
CLP revision defines new role for distributors in poison centre notifications
The recently revised Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) Regulation clarifies the responsibilities of duty holders related to notifications of hazardous mixtures to poison centres.
One of the main changes in the context of poison centre notifications (Article 45) is that distributors – companies that relabel, rebrand or retail hazardous mixtures – are now duty holders and may need to submit information on hazardous mixtures to poison centres.
For more information see the following link:
4 December 2024 - REACH update
Lead in PVC restriction kicks in
From 29 November 2024, lead will no longer be allowed in products made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) if its concentration is 0.1% or higher by weight. Certain applications, such as articles containing recovered PVC, have longer transition periods.
While the EU industry has already voluntarily stopped using lead stabilisers in PVC, this new regulation will restrict lead use also in imported products and recycled materials.
Lead is a toxic substance which affects the development of the nervous system in children and increases the risk of chronic kidney disease and high blood pressure. It is also very toxic to aquatic life.
For more information see the following link:
Submission of octocrilene restriction proposal postponed
France's submission of the Annex XV restriction proposal on octocrilene (EC 228-250-8, CAS 6197-30-4) is postponed to 18 July 2025.
For more information see the following link:
16 October 2024 - CLP update
Council adopts regulation on classification, labelling and packaging
The Council of the European Union adopted a regulation on the classification, labelling and packaging of chemical substances (CLP) on 14 October 2024.
After the Presidents of the European Parliament and the Council have signed it, the new CLP Regulation will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force 20 days later.
The revision clarifies the rules on labelling chemical substances and ensures a higher level of protection against chemical hazards.
For more information please see the following link:
Compliance date for industrial use only mixtures approaching
From 1 January 2024 all new poison centre notifications must comply with the harmonised information requirements. These include the full chemical composition, the toxicological information, information about the product and the unique formula identifier (UFI) according to Annex VIII to the CLP Regulation. The 1 January 2024 compliance date brings onboard also the mixtures for industrial use only.
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