ECHA Weekly: Five hazardous chemicals added to the Candidate List

REACH

New substance evaluation conclusions published for CoRAP substance

European Commission decisions on applications for authorisation

The Commission has granted three authorisations for two uses of 1,2-dichloroethane and one use of 4-Nonylphenol, branched and linear, ethoxylated.

It has also corrected one decision granting authorisation for four uses of 4-(1,1,3,3-Tetra methylbutyl)phenol, ethoxylated.

Find the substances and all details on Commission's website.

CLP

European Commission updates the list of harmonised classifications

The Commission has updated its list of harmonised classification and labelling with 28 new entries. In addition, 24 entries were revised. The new classifications will apply as of 1 September 2025.

The scientific assessment for these substances was done in collaboration between ECHA, its Committee for Risk Assessment and Member State authorities for decision-making at the Commission.

Drinking Water Directive

European Commission adopts first European positive lists for drinking water

As part of setting new minimum hygiene standards for materials and products under the Drinking Water Directive (DWD), the Commission has decided on the first positive lists of chemicals that can be safely used in materials that come into contact with drinking water. The lists are available as an annex to an implementing act.

ECHA supports the Commission by maintaining these positive lists.

Overall, the Commission adopted three delegated regulations and two other implementing acts for the DWD. The European Parliament and the Council now have two months to formulate objections on the delegated acts. If not, they will enter into force together with three implementing acts approved by the Member State representatives on the DWD Committee on 15 December 2023.

ECHA

Website maintenance

Our websites, including the main website, IUCLID, Chesar, EUON, Poison Centre and Apcra, will not be accessible on Thursday, 25 January 2024 from 07:00 to 09:00 Helsinki time due to maintenance.

Our IT tools are not affected and you can continue using them normally.

Webinars

Get ready for the transition of SPC into IUCLID

If you prepare applications for product authorisation under the Biocidal Products Regulation, join our webinar on 15 February 2024 at 11:00 Helsinki time to learn how to use IUCLID to create your summaries of product characteristics (SPC). The transition of SPC into IUCLID will go live on 10 February 2024.

Mark the date on your calendar and follow the webinar from our home page. The Q&A opens on the day of the event and will be available until 29 February.

Get familiar with ECHA’s guidance for risk assessment of bees

Are you working on the environmental risk assessment of biocides? Save the date for our webinar on 5 March 2024 to get an overview on ECHA's new guidance for assessing risks to bees from the use of biocides.

In addition to the overall risk assessment scheme, the webinar will address new information requirements, exposure assessment from the use of biocides and specific aspects of bee risk assessment in comparison to the standard environmental assessment of biocides.

EU Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON)

Nanopinion: Graphene oxide reduces the toxicity of misfolded Alzheimer’s proteins

Read our latest Nanopinion guest column by Dr Xin Chen, Prof. Ivan Mijakovic and Dr Santosh Pandit. They write about the graphene oxide nanoflakes’ interaction with the misfolded Alzheimer’s proteins and their potential to treat neurodegenerative diseases.

Court judgments

Court confirms the Commission’s decision to approve the biocidal active substance carbendazim

In case T-297/21, the General Court dismissed the action brought by Troy Chemical Company against the decision of the European Commission to approve carbendazim for three years rather than the standard ten years.

The Court upheld the Commission’s approach of taking into account all the relevant inherent properties of the substance in order to set its approval period. The Commission did not depart from the conclusions set out in the Biocides Products Committee opinions, which constituted the scientific basis for the contested decision.

Others

Workshop for substitution of targeted hazardous chemicals

On 1 March 2024, the European Commission organises a workshop to discuss the study 'Strengthening the role of substitution planning in the context of REACH and other EU chemicals legislation'.

The event takes place at the Commission premises in Brussels. Participants can join either in person or virtually.

If you are interested in joining, use this online form to express your interest until 1 February 2024.