September 2018

September 2018 

Food contact materials

11th Amendment to EU plastic food contact material regulation
On June 5, 2018, the European Commission (EC) published the 11th amendment to Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. The update includes authorisations for two new substances for use in plastic FCMs: 1) 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphtalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, dimethyl ester (CAS 23985-75-3) and [3-(2,3-epoxypropoxy) propyl]trimethoxy silane (CAS 2530-83-8). The entries for two other food contact substances have been changed.

REACH/CLP and biocides

Public consultation on 18 substances proposed for authorisation under REACH

ECHA invites comments on its proposal to include 18 new substances in the REACH Authorisation List. Comments can be given until 5 December 2018. The substances are listed in the annex to the news release.
Annex

Further substances assessed by authorities

The public activities coordination tool (PACT) has been updated with information on 4 substances that are undergoing hazard assessment or risk management option analysis by authorities.
Public activities coordination tool

Public consultation on the interface between chemical, product and waste legislation

The European Commission has launched a public consultation which builds upon its analysis of the interface in the Communication published in January 2018. The questionnaire is available in 23 EU languages and comments can be submitted in any of those languages.

The deadline for comments is 29 October 2018.
Give comments

Authorised uses: non-confidential information from downstream user notifications now available

If a company's use of a substance on the Authorisation List is covered by an authorisation granted to their supplier, the company must notify ECHA on the continued use of the substance after its sunset date.

ECHA has published a public register with data from the first notifications received in 2016.
Downstream user notifications web page

New database on Candidate List substances in articles by 2021

ECHA will establish a new database on the presence of hazardous chemicals in articles by the end of 2019 for waste treatment operators and consumers. The database will comprise information submitted by companies producing, importing or selling articles that contain Candidate List substances. Companies need to submit this information by the end of 2020.

Sustainability/recycling/waste legislation

ECHA classifies cyclic siloxanes as SVHCs

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) identified 3 cyclic siloxanes as substances of very high concern (SVHC). At the meeting on 12-14 June 2018, ECHA’s Member State Committee agreed that D4 (octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, CAS 556-67-2), D5 (decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, CAS 541-02-6) and D6 (dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane, CAS 540-97-6) are very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB), whereas D4 is also persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT). D5 and D6 can also be regarded as PBT, if D4 impurities are equal to or higher than 0.1% by weight.

New Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive amendment entered into force

With the official publication of the Circular Economy Package, a range of Directives officially entered into force on 4 July 2018. The new Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) now includes a new definition on ‘composite packaging’, made of 2 or more layers of different materials which cannot be separated by hand and form a single integral unit.

In addition, Member States are mandated to take measures to increase the share of reusable packaging, with the possibility to set a minimum percentage of reusable packaging for each packaging stream.

As a next step, the Commission will review the illustrative examples of packaging.

Upcoming meetings

June 2018
April 2018
February 2018