Latest chemicals news for Northern Ireland - updated 14 April 2025.
9 April 2025 - CLP update
Workshop on the hazard classes for PBT/vPvB and PMT/vPvM properties
Join the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)`s online workshop on 6 May 2025, from 10:00 to 16:00 Helsinki time, where we will discuss the guidance for the new hazard classes of the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation, specifically:
- Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic (PBT) properties/very Persistent, very Bioaccumulative (vPvB)
- Persistent, Mobile and Toxic (PMT)/very Persistent, very Mobile (vPvM) properties
You will have the opportunity to share your thoughts and ask questions on these new hazard classes, as well as learn more about the CLP guidance development process.
The event is free of charge, but you need to register by 25 April 2025 to receive the Webex link to join and the full agenda.
For more information please see the following link:
2 April 2025 - CLP update
Consultations on harmonised classification and labelling
We are looking for comments on the harmonised classification and labelling proposals for:
- 1-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3,5,5,6,8,8-hexamethyl-2-naphthyl)ethan-1-one (EC 216-133-4; 244-240-6, CAS 1506-02-1, 21145-77-7)
- butan-2-one O,O',O''-(methylsilylidyne)trioxime [1] butan-2-one O,O',O''-(vinylsilylidyne)trioxime [2] butan-2-one O,O',O'',O'''-silanetetrayltetraoxime [3] (EC 245-366-4 [1] 218-747-8 [2] 251-882-0 [3], CAS 22984-54-9 [1] 2224-33-1 [2] 34206-40-1 [3])
- 2-butanone-O,O',O''-(phenylsilylidyne)trioxime (EC 433-360-6, CAS 34036-80-1)
Have your say until 30 May 2025.
For more information please see the following link:
2 April 2025 - REACH update
European Commission restricts PAHs in clay targets
On 1 April 2025, the Commission adopted an EU-wide restriction on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in clay targets for shooting. Each year, it is estimated that at least 270 tonnes of these toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative substances are released into the environment from clay target shooting. The new restriction is expected to reduce these emissions by 99%.
In addition to environmental benefits, the restriction will also reduce the exposure for workers and the public handling or shooting clay targets, lowering the associated cancer risk. It will start applying from 22 April 2026.
PAHs are found in binders, such as petroleum pitch, which are used to produce clay targets.
The restriction proposal was prepared by ECHA in October 2021. ECHA`s scientific committees for Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis supported the proposal in their 2022 opinions.
For more information please see the following link:
19 March 2025 - REACH update
Testing proposals
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) have launched 14 new consultations on testing proposals.
Have your say until 2 May 2025.
For more information please see the following link:
Consultations on harmonised classification and labelling
ECHA are looking for comments on the harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) proposals for:
- 5-methylhexan-2-one; isoamyl methyl ketone (EC 203-737-8, CAS 110-12-3); and
- 2-[(1R,6R)-3-methyl-6-prop-1-en-2-ylcyclohex-2-en-1-yl]-5-pentylbenzene-1,3-diol; cannabidiol (EC -, CAS 13956-29-1).
Have your say until 16 May 2025.
For more information please see the following link:
Poison centre notifications: beyond the transition period
Join ECHA`s webinar on poison centre notifications on 13 May 2025 at 11:00 (Helsinki time). ECHA will give you an overview of the changes to poison centre notifications following updates to the Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation. You will also learn about new submission formats, tools, and guidance.
This webinar is open for everyone but particularly meant for importers, distributors and service providers.
Send your questions to our experts in advance and follow our live questions and answers.
For more information please see the following link:
12 March 2025 - CLP update
Consultations on harmonised classification and labelling
ECHA are looking for comments on the harmonised classification and labelling proposals for:
- potassium bromate (EC 231-829-8, CAS 7758-01-2)
- sodium bromate (EC 232-160-4, CAS 7789-38-0)
- reaction products of ammonium bromide and sodium hypochlorite, generated in-situ (EC -, CAS -)
Have your say until 9 May 2025.
For more information please see the following link:
5 March 2025 - CLP update
Consultations on harmonised classification and labelling
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) are looking for comments on the harmonised classification and labelling proposal for:
- trimagnesium diphosphide; magnesium phosphide (EC 235-023-7, CAS 12057-74-8)
- aluminium phosphide (EC 244-088-0, CAS 20859-73-8)
Have your say until 2 May 2025.
For more information please see the following link:
5 March 2025 - REACH update
New proposals to identify substances of very high concern
ECHA have published three proposals to identify substances of very high concern. The substances and examples of their uses are:
- 1,1,1,3,5,5,5-heptamethyl-3-[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]trisiloxane (EC 241-867-7, CAS 17928-28-8) - used as a laboratory reagent and in cosmetics/personal care products
- decamethyltetrasiloxane (EC 205-491-7, CAS 141-62-8) - used in lubricants and greases and in automotive care products
- tetra(sodium/potassium) 7-[(E)-{2-acetamido-4-[(E)-(4-{[4-chloro-6-({2-[(4-fluoro-6-{[4-(vinylsulfonyl)phenyl]amino}-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl)amino]propyl}amino)-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl]amino}-5-sulfonato-1-naphthyl)diazenyl]-5-methoxyphenyl}diazenyl]-1,3,6-naphthalenetrisulfonate; Reactive Brown 51 (EC 466-490-7, CAS -) -used in textile treatment products and dyes
Have your say until 14 April 2025.
For more information please see the following link:
26 February 2025 - CLP update
Consultation on harmonised classification and labelling
ECHA are looking for comments on the harmonised classification and labelling proposal for:
- N,N-dicyclohexylbenzothiazole-2-sulphenamide (EC 225-625-8, CAS 4979-32-2)
Have your say by 22 April 2025:
26 February 2025 - REACH update
Workshop to discuss the roadmap to phase out animal testing
On 16-17 June 2025, the European Commission and ECHA will jointly organise a third workshop to discuss elements of the roadmap to phase out animal testing for chemical safety assessments. The purpose is to present proposed recommendations of the roadmap for stakeholder consultation.
Contribute to this important discussion by joining at ECHA or remotely.
You can register until 15 May 2025 to attend this free-of-charge event at ECHA`s premises in Helsinki. No registration is needed if you follow the workshop's plenary sessions online:
11 December - CLP update
Revised rules for classification, labelling and packaging enter into force
The updated Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation started to apply on 10 December 2024. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) encourage companies to review their substance portfolios and update classifications as needed.
The updated CLP Regulation aims to better identify and classify hazardous chemicals, as well as improve the communication on chemical hazards.
For more information see the following link:
CLP revision defines new role for distributors in poison centre notifications
The recently revised Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) Regulation clarifies the responsibilities of duty holders related to notifications of hazardous mixtures to poison centres.
One of the main changes in the context of poison centre notifications (Article 45) is that distributors – companies that relabel, rebrand or retail hazardous mixtures – are now duty holders and may need to submit information on hazardous mixtures to poison centres.
For more information see the following link:
4 December 2024 - REACH update
Lead in PVC restriction kicks in
From 29 November 2024, lead will no longer be allowed in products made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) if its concentration is 0.1% or higher by weight. Certain applications, such as articles containing recovered PVC, have longer transition periods.
While the EU industry has already voluntarily stopped using lead stabilisers in PVC, this new regulation will restrict lead use also in imported products and recycled materials.
Lead is a toxic substance which affects the development of the nervous system in children and increases the risk of chronic kidney disease and high blood pressure. It is also very toxic to aquatic life.
For more information see the following link:
Submission of octocrilene restriction proposal postponed
France's submission of the Annex XV restriction proposal on octocrilene (EC 228-250-8, CAS 6197-30-4) is postponed to 18 July 2025.
For more information see the following link:
16 October 2024 - CLP update
Council adopts regulation on classification, labelling and packaging
The Council of the European Union adopted a regulation on the classification, labelling and packaging of chemical substances (CLP) on 14 October 2024.
After the Presidents of the European Parliament and the Council have signed it, the new CLP Regulation will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force 20 days later.
The revision clarifies the rules on labelling chemical substances and ensures a higher level of protection against chemical hazards.
For more information please see the following link:
Compliance date for industrial use only mixtures approaching
From 1 January 2024 all new poison centre notifications must comply with the harmonised information requirements. These include the full chemical composition, the toxicological information, information about the product and the unique formula identifier (UFI) according to Annex VIII to the CLP Regulation. The 1 January 2024 compliance date brings onboard also the mixtures for industrial use only.
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