Sweden is suing the Commission over the decision to grant authorisation for a Canadian company to use lead chromates. The health aspects entailed with the use of these toxic substances and the fact that authorisation has been given even though…
ECHA ignores Member States advice, recommends fewer substances to be added to Annex XIV
ChemSec regrets ECHA removed the respiratory sensitisers, HHPA and MHHPA, from its final recommendation of substances it proposes should be added to REACH Annex XIV. HHPA and MHHPA was removed from the final recommendation even though the Member State Committee…
Press Release: Commission faces legal challenge over approval of toxic paints
The European Commission is facing a new legal challenge on its decision to authorise the use of a dangerous neurotoxin in paint. ClientEarth, the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), The International Chemical Secretariat (ChemSec) and International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN), are…
Authorisation to use lead pigments granted
An application to authorise the non-consumer use of two lead pigments was granted by the REACH committee yesterday, ENDS Europe writes. The application, submitted by Canadian company DCC, have been an ongoing story for several years. With the authorisation to…
The authorisation process relies too much on the socio-economic analysis
The socio-economic analysis (SEA) plays a too influential role in the authorisation process. This was ChemSec’s main message at yesterday’s workshop in Brussels, where a number of stakeholders met to discuss the benefits and challenges of SEA in REACH. Furthermore,…
ChemSec and IPEN calls on the REACH committee not to grant authorisation to use lead chromates
Ahead of next weeks REACH committee meeting, where members will vote and potentially adopt the Commissions draft decision to authorise the use of lead chromates, NGO’s ChemSec and IPEN have sent a letter to the Committee calling on the members…
The Commission greenlights authorisation to use hazardous lead pigments
Two hazardous lead pigments could be authorised for non-consumer use in July, following a draft decision issued by the Commission. The substances – lead sulfochromate yellow and lead chromate molybdate sulfate red – could be granted authorisation for use in pigment…
Low quality applications and unspecified uses limit the authorisation process
Applications for authorisation are submitted in a way that severely complicates the work of the ECHA Committee experts that are to evaluate them. They frequently contain excessive non-essential information or are unspecific about the actual use of the chemical. In…
New proposal for exposure limit to Chromium VI calculates for cancer in every tenth worker
Proposed EU limits over 20 times higher compared to some national limits Could open up a legal loophole that would allow companies to use restricted chemicals Last week the EU Commission presented its new proposal for exposure limits to 13...
ECHA report: Health benefits of chemical restrictions exceeds €700 million per year
A recent study by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) tries to assess the benefits of chemical restrictions for the environment and human health. Key findings in the study include: Health benefits equivalent to over €700 million per year Reduction of…