Chemical News

The European Soap and Detergent Association (AISE) yesterday welcomed the quick adoption by MEPs of the EU Regulation on classification, labelling and packaging of hazardous substances (CLP). It would help improve consumer confidence in chemicals, AISE said. But the organisation is concerned that some mixtures have not been given sufficient transition time to adopt the new rules. The EU craft and SME employers' organisation (UEAPME) also voiced its concern that a proposed amendment to exempt substances produced below one tonne per annum from the need for notification of their classification and labelling to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has not been included in the final text. UEAPME says this will create unnessary burdens and legal uncertainty for its members. It will also worry larger firms that fear rivals will be able to use such notifications to discover their R&D plans.

The Danish Environment Ministry is to hold a workshop to provide guidance on how to draw up exposure scenarios as required for chemical safety assessments of hazardous substances under the REACH Regulation. It takes place from 22-23 October in Copenhagen.

The Danish environment ministry has launched a campaign to help consumers lower their exposure to chemicals in the house. Tips include adequate ventilation, turning off electronic equipment after use, regular dust removal and safe use of cleaning products.

US experts have concluded that they do have "some concerns" about the effects of the plastics intermediate bisphenol A on the brain, behaviour and prostate gland in fetuses, infants and children at current human exposures to bisphenol A. The Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR), part of the National Institute of Health's National Toxicology Program, has now published its final monograph on the issue after months of further research and public consultation following publication of an initial report last summer which prompted claims of bias on the part of the scientists involved. US NGO the Environmental Working Group (EWG) described the final report as "courageous" and said it flew in the face of a recent draft Food and Drug Administration report claiming that bisphenol A was safe. Their concern about the effects on the prostate gland is now greater than in a report publihse found in polycarbonate and other materials, does raise some con

The American Chemistry Council's Bisphenol A group has welcomed the Nationa Institute of Health's National Toxicology Program (NTP) report on bisphenol A, describing it as being based on sound science. "While NTP noted limited and inconclusive evidence from laboratory animal studies that could indicate health concerns, additional research will be needed to determine if these concerns are relevant to human health, concluded Steven Hentges of the ACC. On the other hand, he says, "The report confirms that human exposure to bisphenol A is very low and that there is no direct evidence that exposure to bisphenol A adversely affects human reproduction or development."

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is continuing to make progress in publishing risk characterisations for priority substances that have undergone hazard screening under its High Production Volume (HPV) programme. The agency has published 79 'risk-based prioritisations' so far under the scheme, all of them this year.

MEPs have today voted to adopt three legislative texts including a draft Regulation on classification, labelling and packaging of hazardous substances (CLP), which implements in the EU the UN Globally Harmonised System of classification and labelling. The two other laws amend downstream legislation to refer to the new CLP Regulation. The European Parliament's rapporteur for the dossier Amalia Sartori described the package as an "acceptable compromise". The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) also welcomed adoption of the CLP law as a step towards better information for consumers worldwide on safe use fo chemicals. It noted that aside from labelling itself, other aspects of the law including greater sharing of information by national poison centres and a public list of the dangerous properties subject to mandatory labelling will all help to better protect consumers.

US NGO the Center for Health and Environmental Justice (CHEJ) is rallying public support for a national day of action on 29 October to persuade Walt Disney to adopt a green cleaning strategy in its many theme parks and other establishments. CHEJ wants the company to ensure that it buys and uses cleaning products with 'green' ingredients and that it trains its staff to use them safely. The group notes that it has been trying to persuade Disney to adopt such a strategy for two years.

Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF), the NGO behind the pocket-sized shoppers' guide to REACH launched last year, is to hold an event in the European Parliament tomorrow to lobby for stronger controls on hazardous substances under a revised EU toys Directive. Earlier this year WECF Germany called for complete bans of certain substances under the Directive.

Two EU NGOs - Natuur en Milieu and Pan Europe - have lodged an appeal at the EU Court of First Instance to challenge the European Commission's refusal to review a new law setting maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pesticides, which came into force yesterday. The groups cite a new report by Greenpeace Germany which says most of the specified MRLs are too high, posing acute and chronic health risks, particularly to children.

The first African ministerial conference on environment and health ended at the weekend with adoption of the Libreville Declaration and action plan to try to address some of the root causes of the continent's problems. Under the heading of 'emerging issues', the conference identified the need for African countries to be able to handle risks from persistent organic pollutants and hazardous substances released through products, in particular, consumer electronic waste sent to Africa for 'recycling'. Meanwhile, NGOs are continuing to push for changes to electronic equipment recycling and disposal laws in the USA and elsewhere to curb the export of hazardous materials to developing countries.

A state-backed corporation to promote the research and commercial development of nanotechnologies in Russia gave itself a new global brand - RUSNANO - over the summer. At the same time, Russian Federation Government Chairman Vladimir Putin has given his approval for RUSNANO to organise the country's first international forum on nanotechnologies to be held from 3-5 December in Moscow, which will include discussion of social and safety effects.

An EU Regulation enters into force today establishing harmonised maximum residue levels (MRLs) for 1,100 pesticides in 315 agricultural products. The limits, which replace a myriad of national thresholds, can be accessed at a new database.

The European Commission has issued a 'pre-announcement' of an invitation to scientists with more than 10 years of professional experience to apply for membership of its key scientific committees. They may also apply to join a pool of scientific advisors or database of experts. The bodies will be re-established under a new 'scientific risk assessment advisory structure".

Revised exemptions from restrictions on the use of lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium under the EU end-of-life vehicles Directive have been published by the European Commission.

Draft initial hazard assessments now available.

More than 30 companies signed up to consortium; 150 to attend information day in September

The former European Chemicals Bureau has published its last newsletter. The special publication looks back over the department's 15-year history, its current activities and future work. While ECHA takes on much of the group's chemicals activities, the newly named Consumer Products Safety and Quality unit will continue to have responsibility for biocides, computational toxicology and testing methods, reporting to the Joint Research Centre’s Institute for Health & Consumer Protection (IHCP).

Web-based tool aims to assist cooperation and communication

The Lower Olefins and Aromatics (LOA) REACH Consortium has launched a new website to provide general information on the group, its objectives and scope. The consortium, launched in June, has 19 members--more than 30 other companies have expressed interest in joining. So far it has compiled a list of 192 substances that it might support through the REACH registration process. Some of these substances may be covered by other consortia and an LOA REACH Consortium working group is currently preparing a definitive list, which will be published in September 2008.

Ten months after it was first introduced the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act has become law after President George Bush signed it into the USA legislature on 14 August. The new rules strengthen the Consumer Product Safety Commission's role, especially in the protection of children. Levels of lead allowed in toys and other children's products are reduced and phthalates have been banned in certain items. The American Chemistry Council has said that it understands public concerns regarding the additives, but stated that there is no scientific basis for the phthalate ban.

In the USA, the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA), the American Chemistry Council (ACC), and NanoBusiness Alliance have issued a joint statement in appreciation of the EPA's Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program. The initiative is designed to speed the collection of hazard and use information for nanoscale materials in order to assess their potential environmental, health and safety impacts.

In the USA, the Food and Drug Administration is to hold a public meeting on 16 September to discuss its draft assessment of the safety of bisphenol A (BPA) used in food-contact packaging.

Group plans to develop high-quality dossier to fulfil REACH requirements