Latest chemicals news for Northern Ireland - updated 5 May 2025
Date published:
Latest chemicals news for Northern Ireland - updated 5 May 2025.
28 May 2025 CLP update
Consultations on harmonised classification and labelling
ECHA are looking for comments on the harmonised classification and labelling proposals for:
- trifluoroacetic acid .… % (EC 200-929-3, CAS 76-05-1);
- sodium trifluoroacetate; [1] and other inorganic salts of trifluoroacetic acid [2] (EC 220-879-6 [1] - [2], CAS 2923-18-4 [1] - [2]);
- di(morpholin-4-yl) disulphide (EC 203-103-0, CAS 103-34-4);
- N,N'-hexane-1,6-diylbis[2,2-dimethyl-3-(morpholin-4-yl)propan-1-imine] (EC -, CAS 1217271-49-2); and
- N-[3-({[2,2-dimethyl-3-(morpholin-4-yl)propylidene]amino}methyl)-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexyl]-2,2-dimethyl-3-(morpholin-4-yl)propan-1-imine (EC -, CAS 1217271-02-7).
Have your say until 25 July 2025.
28 May 2025 REACH update
New intentions to identify SVHCs
ECHA have received intentions for identification as substances of very high concern (SVHCs) for:
- 4,4'-methylenediphenol (EC 210-658-2, CAS 620-92-8), expected date of submission: August 2025.
- 4,4'-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenol (BPAF) and its salts (EC -, CAS -), expected date of submission: August 2025.
- 1,1'-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis[pentabromobenzene] (DBDPE) (EC 284-366-9, CAS 84852-53-9), expected date of submission: June 2025.
To facilitate the potential identification of DBDPE as an SVHC, we will organise an ad hoc SVHC consultation. This will support the restriction work on brominated flame retardants and align with the deadline for a possible transfer of the substance, through a delegated act, directly to Annex VI of the CLP Regulation.
The consultation is expected to launch on 27 June 2025, with a deadline of 11 August 2025.
14 May 2025 - REACH update
New guideline for measuring formaldehyde releases and concentrations
The European Commissions Agency (ECHA) have published a guideline which explains how to measure formaldehyde releases from articles and its concentrations inside vehicles, following the requirements set out in Appendix 14 of the EU-wide restriction of formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers. The restriction starts applying in August 2026.
The guideline was prepared at the request of the European Commission.
For more information please see the following link:
ECHA's completed activities on restriction - (ECHA website)
Consultations on applications for authorisation
ECHA have launched consultations on ten applications for authorisation covering ten uses of Chromium trioxide (EC 215-607-8):
- for chrome plating of different parts and substrates in the sanitary, automotive, rubber, plastic, paper, hydraulic, pharmaceutical, automotive, food, and building sectors
- for etching and pre-treatment of parts used in the cosmetic, hydro-sanitary, and perfumery sectors
- in primers and slurry coating operations in the aerospace and defence sectors
More information about the uses applied for is available on ECHA`s website. Have your say through an online webform until 9 July 2025.
2 April 2025 - REACH update
European Commission restricts PAHs in clay targets
On 1 April 2025, the Commission adopted an EU-wide restriction on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in clay targets for shooting. Each year, it is estimated that at least 270 tonnes of these toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative substances are released into the environment from clay target shooting. The new restriction is expected to reduce these emissions by 99%.
In addition to environmental benefits, the restriction will also reduce the exposure for workers and the public handling or shooting clay targets, lowering the associated cancer risk. It will start applying from 22 April 2026.
PAHs are found in binders, such as petroleum pitch, which are used to produce clay targets.
The restriction proposal was prepared by ECHA in October 2021. ECHA`s scientific committees for Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis supported the proposal in their 2022 opinions.
For more information please see the following link:
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:
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:
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.