ECHA Weekly: Hazardous chemicals found in many consumer products

REACH

Member States plan to evaluate 28 substances in 2024-2026

We have listed 28 substances for evaluation by EU Member States under the Community Rolling Action Plan (CoRAP) for 2024-2026. Ten are planned to be evaluated in 2024, including a group of four substances. 18 are listed for evaluation in 2025 and 2026.

We will adopt and publish the CoRAP for 2024-2026 in March 2024 following the opinion of the Member State Committee. Registrants are encouraged to look at the draft list of substances planned for evaluation in 2024 and update their dossiers to include all relevant information before March 2024.

Call for evidence on certain chromium (VI) substances

We are looking for information for a potential REACH restriction of certain chromium (VI) substances. This call for evidence is targeting companies using chromium (VI) substances and focuses on various scientific limit values and the costs associated with meeting them. We also welcome information from industry associations, non-governmental organisations, providers of alternatives, Member State representatives, and other interested parties.

The information will be used to prepare an Annex XV restriction proposal as requested by the European Commission.
Have your say until 13 February 2024.

Assessment of regulatory needs reports published

Reports for the following substance groups are now available on our website:

If you have questions or feedback related to the assessment work, you can send them to us using this webform.

CLP

New proposals to harmonise classification and labelling

Two proposals have been submitted for:

Consultation on harmonised classification and labelling

We are looking for comments on the harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) proposal for:

The proposal format combines the draft (renewal) assessment report prepared according to the Plant Protection Products Regulation and the proposal for CLH under the Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation. For additional information, consult the European Commission's Guidelines on Active Substances and Plant Protection Products.

For more information on this active substance and on the studies included in the CLH report, consult the draft assessment report on the European Food Safety Authority's consultation website.

Have your say until 9 February 2024.

Biocides

Updated timelines for active substance and Union authorisation applications

You can find on our website the updated timelines for forming opinions for:

Find a competent authority for your Union authorisation application

If you are planning to apply for Union authorisation, you need to find a competent authority willing to evaluate your application. To help companies, we have published information on evaluating competent authorities for Union authorisation.

Reminder: Consultation on the draft act proposing to extend the Review Programme

You have until 21 December 2023 to comment on the European Commission's draft act concerning the extension of the review period for existing active substances in biocidal products.

European Commission decisions on Union authorisation

The Commission has granted a Union authorisation for:

The Commission has amended a Union authorisation it has earlier granted for:

ECHA

First scientific contracts signed to address critical barriers in phasing out animal testing

We have signed a framework contract with a consortium led by Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine to support the development of methodologies to reduce animal testing. The aim is to develop tools and data for hazard identification and characterisation of industrial chemicals based on New Approach Methodologies.

The first three projects focus on addressing critical barriers in phasing out animal testing. They include developing OECD guidance, case studies and methodologies as well as in-vitro testing strategies.

EU Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON)

Nanopinion: An ancestral molecular response to nanomaterial particulates

In our latest Nanopinion guest column, Prof. Dario Greco and M.Sc. Giusy del Giudice, discuss the importance of new-generation tests for assessing the potential toxicity of nanomaterials across multiple species and the consequences of long-term exposure to nanoparticles.