After over two years since the latest addition, the Commission now decided to add new substances to annex XIV. All in all the REACH committee has agreed upon 12 new chemicals to added which brings the annex XIV tally to…
Review of 2016: The 5 biggest mistakes by the Commission and more
It’s Christmas time again, and beyond that 2017 is approaching fast. But before we all log off and spend some well-deserved time out of the office, we want to take you back, reminisce and think about some of the most...
The Commission wants EDC agreement for Christmas, but fails to address serious concerns
The Commission has for the second time updated its proposed criteria for endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). The changes were made available to Member States in the beginning of December and the Commission has scheduled meetings with the standing committees for…
Here’s what we plan to write in the REACH public consultation
Currently there is an ongoing public consultation on the REACH REFIT and Review process. Here I would like to share ChemSec’s input to the public consultation with you, in the hopes I can inspire you to answer it yourself. We...
Discussions around exception to use toxic chemical fails to consider safe alternatives
The authorisation application to use chromium trioxide by company Grohe is on the agenda during this week’s REACH Committee meeting, where the Commission and Member States adopt the most important decisions on chemicals. In discussions about chromium trioxide, a chemical…
Safe chemicals are in huge demand, problem is some chemical producers don’t see it
A person working for one of the world’s largest chemical companies once told me that even though they are continuously developing alternatives to best-selling chemicals, they do not actively market an alternative until over 40 percent of the customer base...
Why are lobbyists pushing the EU to abandon the hazard approach and what would it mean if we did?
In terms of chemicals legislation, there is high pressure on policy makers today to abandon the hazard-based approach. A number of stakeholders would like to go back to the “dark age of chemicals legislation” and reintroduce legislation based solely on...
Sweden is suing the Commission over lead chromates authorisation
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…
ChemSec’s annual Business Group meeting kicks off today
REACH, Circular Economy and substitution will be on the agenda during the two days of ChemSec’s Business Group meeting which kicks off today in Stockholm, Sweden. The meeting is hosted by the Business Group’s latest member, the multinational clothing-retail company…