Latest chemicals news for Northern Ireland - updated 8 September 2025
Date published:
Latest chemicals news for Northern Ireland - updated 8 September 2025.
3 September 2025 CLP update
Consultations on harmonised classification and labelling
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) are looking for comments on the harmonised classification and labelling proposals for:
- 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl peroxyneodecanoate (EC 257-077-0, CAS 51240-95-0)
- Resin acids and Rosin acids, fumarated, esters with glycerol (EC 307-051-0, CAS 97489-11-7)
- Resin acids and Rosin acids, maleated, esters with pentaerythritol (EC 305-516-2, CAS 94581-17-6)
- Fatty acids, tall-oil, oligomeric reaction products with maleic anhydride and rosin, calcium magnesium zinc salts (EC 500-451-8, CAS 160901-14-4)
- Reaction products of tall oil fatty acids and tall oil rosin with maleic anhydride (EC -, CAS -)
- Rosin, fumarated (EC 266-040-8, CAS 65997-04-8)
- Rosin, maleated (EC 232-480-4, CAS 8050-28-0)
- Rosin, oligomers (EC 500-163-2, CAS 65997-05-9)
- Rosin, colophony (EC 232-475-7, CAS 8050-09-7)
- Rosin, hydrogenated (EC 266-041-3, CAS 65997-06-0)
- tetraconazole (ISO); (+/-) 2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-yl)propyl 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl ether (EC 407-760-6, CAS 112281-77-3)
Have your say until 31 October 2025.
For more information please see the following link:
3 September 2025 REACH update
Three proposals to identify new substances of very high concern (SVHCs)
The substances and examples of their uses are:
- n-Hexane (EC 203-777-6) - used in formulation and polymer processing and in coatings and cleaning agents
- 4,4'-methylenediphenol (BPF, Bisphenol F) (EC 210-658-2) - not registered
- 4,4'-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenol and its salts (EC -) - used as process regulators in polymer materials and in rubber production and processing
Have your say until 16 October 2025.
For more information please see the following link:
Testing proposals
ECHA have launched 14 new consultations on testing proposals.
Have your say until 16 October 2025.
For more information please see the following link:
27 August 2025 CLP update
Consultations on harmonised classification and labelling
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) are looking for comments on the harmonised classification and labelling proposals for:
- 3-aminopropyldiethylamine; N,N-diethyl-1,3-diaminopropane (EC 203-236-4, CAS 104-78-9)
- 3-aminopropyldimethylamine; N,N-dimethyl-1,3-diaminopropane (EC 203-680-9, CAS 109-55-7)
- Reaction products of boric acid with didecylamine and ethylene oxide (EC -, CAS -)
For more information please see the following link:
27 August 2025 REACH update
Call for evidence: screening report on RP-HP
ECHA are looking for comments on a draft screening report, and for relevant information on reaction products of 1,3,4-thiadiazolidine-2,5-dithione, formaldehyde and 4-heptylphenol, branched and linear (RP-HP) in products (articles).
As required by REACH Article 69(2), ECHA are investigating whether the use of these substances in articles is adequately controlled, and if a restriction is needed.
Have your say by 8 October 2025.
For more information please see the following link:
13 August 2025 CLP update
Consultations on harmonised classification and labelling
ECHA are looking for comments on harmonised classification and labelling proposals for:
- Spearmint oil; Essential oil of Spearmint obtained from the aerial part of Mentha spicata and/or Mentha cardiaca (Lamiaceae) obtained by distillation (EC -, CAS 8008-79-5)
- l-p-mentha-1(6),8-dien-2-one; (5R)-2-methyl-5-(prop-1-en-2-yl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one; l-carvone (EC 229-352-5, CAS 6485-40-1)
Have your say until 5 September 2025 - fenazaquin (ISO); 4-[2-[4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenyl]-ethoxy]quinazoline (EC 410-580-0, CAS 120928-09-8)
Have your say until 12 September 2025
For more information please see the following link:
13 August 2025 REACH update
Consultations on applications for authorisation
ECHA have launched consultations on nine applications for authorisation covering 12 uses of Chromium trioxide (EC 215-607-8) used for:
- functional chrome plating
- hard chrome plating
- etching of plastic substrates
- electroplating of plastic and metal components in personal grooming products
More details about the uses applied for and all sectors affected are available on ECHA`s website:
Submit your comments through ECHA`s web form by 8 October 2025.
18 June 2025 REACH update
Consultation on proposed restriction of certain chromium(VI) oxides, oxyacids and salts
ECHA has submitted a proposal to restrict the use of certain chromium(VI) oxides, oxyacids and salts with carcinogenic properties.
The consultation is open until 18 December 2025.
ECHA`s scientific committees welcome early comments by 18 September 2025 to assist them in first discussions of the proposal.
14 May 2025 - REACH update
New guideline for measuring formaldehyde releases and concentrations
The European Commissions Agency (ECHA) have published a guideline which explains how to measure formaldehyde releases from articles and its concentrations inside vehicles, following the requirements set out in Appendix 14 of the EU-wide restriction of formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers. The restriction starts applying in August 2026.
The guideline was prepared at the request of the European Commission.
For more information please see the following link:
ECHA's completed activities on restriction - (ECHA website)
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: