Last Friday Björn Hansen was appointed by the ECHA management board to take over the reigns as Executive Director when the current director, Geert Dancet, retires in the beginning of 2018. “Björn Hansen has an impressive background within chemical policy…
ECHA authorisation process report shows many positives, but lacks a full societal analysis
This week the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) released a meta-analysis on the socio-economic impacts of REACH authorisation. According to ECHA, the way the authorisation process has been handled has led to increased control of use of the most problematic chemicals…
Recognition of BPA as an EDC for human health will increase the protection of consumers
During last week’s vote in the ECHA Member State Committee, Bisphenol A (BPA) was officially identified as an SVHC substance due to its endocrine disrupting properties for human health. While BPA has already been added to this SVHC list for…
Why should producers of safer chemicals bother with policy when no one listens to them?
Why should producers of safer chemicals bother with policy when no one listens to them? The authorisation process hurts European innovation Ι By Anne-Sofie Andersson When I studied chemistry I used to rent a small flat in a rather rundown...
ECHA’s latest PR gives a misleading impression about the progress of REACH
Earlier this week ECHA issued a press release with the headline saying “All known substances of very high concern being tackled”. This headline is very unfortunate, as it gives the impression that the hazardous chemicals in the EU are dealt…
Historical EU vote recognises four chemicals as hormone disrupting for humans
Yesterday the EU member states of the REACH committee voted in favour of recognising four phthalates as hormone disrupting for humans. The historical vote is the first time ever that chemicals has been recorded as endocrine disrupting (EDCs) for humans…
Court rules in ECHA’s favour over its decision to release confidential chemical information to NGOs
ECHA was right in its decision to release previously undisclosed information connected to a DEHP authorisation application to environmental NGOs ClientEarth and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), Chemical watch writes. The application for authorisation by Czech chemicals manufacturer, Deza, contained…
Are the wheels of European chemical policy finally starting to turn again?
As an environmentally aware person working with chemical policy it is not every day you get to see positive signs. Industry lobbyists are hindering progressive legislation, the policy and implementation processes are too slow and the positive effects of what…
Four new chemicals added to the Candidate List, including Bisphenol A
Four new substances of very high concern (SVHCs), including Bisphenol A (BPA), has been added to the Candidate List based on proposals by France, Sweden, Germany and Austria, ECHA writes in a press release today. That brings the total number of…
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…