Chemical solutions newsletter March 2023

In this edition:

• New CLP classifications now published
• Understanding PFAS and it's evolving regulatory landscape
• ECHA's new recommendations to improve REACH registration dossiers
• Poison centre notifications deadlines
• SETAC 2023 event, and sharing our Persistence assessment tool.

New CLP classifications for endocrine disruptors and other harmful chemicals now published

The European Commission has published a revision to classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP) Regulation, introducing new hazard classes for endocrine disruptors and other harmful chemicals.

A breakdown of these new classifications along with the dates to comply with can be found here.

Where these classifications apply, you will need to update your SDS, Labels, REACH dossiers, and poison centre notifications. You will need expert support to understand if these classifications apply to you and have robust case for your classifications and identifying which substances in your supply chain will be impacted by these changes is likely to be a challenge for many organisations.

Our horizon scanning tool can help to relieve the burden of this changing situation by performing a substance inventory check to identify whether your substances appear on any global regulatory lists. It provides the results in a clear, easy-to-read report, so that you can quickly determine the most recent status of your substances.

Learn more >

Understanding PFAS

Some PFAS are already restricted under REACH and with the introduction of the universal restriction proposal, we expect that producers and users of PFAS will need to reformulate products and modify processes in response to tighter regulation and customer demand for safer, more sustainable chemistries.

If you manufacture, supply or use PFAS or are unsure if you have any in your portfolio, our immediate suggestions would be to: 

• Use our horizon scanning tool to identify if you have any PFAS in your portfolio.
• Participate in consultation regarding the universal restriction proposal which began on 23 March.

Our environmental chemistry and toxicology experts have recorded a short video describing why PFAS are such a ‘hot topic’, the evolving regulatory landscape around them and actions you will need to consider if you manufacture, supply or use PFAS in the EU. Watch the video here.  

If you have any questions regarding use or manufacturing of PFAS, and need support with identifying and transitioning away from PFAS use, please contact our chemical experts today.

Meet our expert – Simon Cook, Regulatory Consultant

Simon holds an MEng in Chemical Engineering and is currently in training to become a Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor. Simon works across a wide range of our regulatory portfolio including SDS authoring, poison centre notifications, global regulations, Emergency Action Code Dangerous Goods List and the Hazmat Conference. Our customers find Simon a joy to work with and really appreciate his range of regulatory knowledge.

Simon coordinates our Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor Service (DGSA) and manages the Chemedox® SDS management software as well as being involved in developing new services.

Learn more >

New recommendations from ECHA to improve REACH registration dossiers

From 2009 until the end of 2022, ECHA ran compliance checks on more than 15% of registered substances. By 2027, ECHA will have screened all registration dossiers submitted by the 2018 deadline. Remember, if ECHA finds a compliance failure, it could lead to problems with the REACH registration and subsequent market access.

To help organisations comply with REACH requirements ECHA have updated their recommendations, which include new limits to animal testing and provide specific guidance on use of read-across. Read more. 

With experience in assessing complex and difficult-to-test chemicals, our Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology team provide our customers with technical expertise and guidance on the testing and assessment of substances with challenging properties. We review your dossier to identify and fill data gaps, strengthen justifications for adaptations, and confirm that all appropriate information has been gathered to reduce the likelihood of ECHA requesting further information.

Learn more >

Poison Centre – industrial deadline and harmonised submissions

Deadlines for customer and professional use products have passed, and the remaining poison centre notification deadlines are as follows:

• 1 January 2024 – for industrial use products  
• 1 January 2025 – for notifications which were completed via individual Member States and now need to be replaced by the harmonised portal notifications.

We offer a full poison centre notification service for companies who have an obligation to notify their hazardous mixtures and biocides.

Find out more >

We will be at SETAC Europe 2023

We are delighted to be presenting and exhibiting at SETAC Europe again this year! After the phenomenal success and learning opportunities at last year's event, our team is really excited to return. This time we will be presenting 5 posters and will be participating in 1 session and 1 seminar.

Our most notable content will be on the Persistence Assessment Tool (PAT), software developed by our environmental chemistry and toxicology experts in conjunction with Concawe and the International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety. The tool provides clear guidance and structure to evaluate data quality, and a quantitative weight-of-evidence methodology to increase consistency, transparency and robustness of persistence assessments.

If you're also attending SETAC, please do come and say hello to us at Booth 59.

To speak to a member of our team regarding assistance with regulatory compliance, emergency response or sustainability, please contact us.