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Ireland: Reach and CLP Regulations Update

Chemical
Regulatory changes issued in January 2021
Reinforcement of restrictions on lead in shot used in or around wetlands By Regulation (EU) 2021/57 of January 25, 2021, the European Commission amended the restrictions on lead used for shooting in or around wetlands. To this end, amendments that come into force on February 15, 2021 were made to Annex XVII of the REACH regulation to control more strictly lead and its compounds (CAS No. 7439-92-1, EC No. 231-100-4). Considering that the use of lead in wetlands entails a risk for water birds, which ingest the lead shot fired, causing toxicological effects and therefore risks for humans consuming these birds, the regulation provides for restrictions on the use of such shot from February 15, 2023 in order to protect the environment and reduce the number of lead poisoning deaths in waterbirds (about 1 million each year). Member States will have the possibility to put in place restrictions on the placing on the market of these shot or on their use. They will also be able to maintain stricter national provisions. Marketing and use authorizations for substances By Decision C(2021) 47 of January 13, 2021, the European Commission authorized the industrial use of high-temperature coal tar pitch (CAS No. 65996-93-2, EC No. 266-028-2) by ArianeGroup until October 4, 2032. This substance can be used in the manufacture of carbon subjected to high thermal and thermomechanical loads, for high-performance civil and military aerospace launchers. Updating the list of substances of very high concern (SVHC) The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced, in a press release dated January 19, 2021, the update of the candidate list of substances of very high concern (SVHC) that could harm people or the environment with the inclusion of two new substances. These two substances, used in particular in the manufacture of plastics and rubber tires, were added because they have toxic effects on reproduction. The two substances added are as follows:
  • Bis(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl)ether (CAS No. 143-24-8, EC No. 205-594-7)
  • Dioctyltin dilurate, stannan derivatives, dioctyl, bis(coconut acyloxy), and any other stannan derivatives, dioctyl, bis(fatty acyloxy), where C12 is the predominant carbon number of the fatty acyloxy moiety.
The candidate list of substances of very high concern now contains 211 chemical substances with these additions. Article suppliers are invited to check whether these new substances are present at more than 0.1% in the articles they place on the market in the EU.
Plans and announcements of regulatory changes for January 2021
Consultations on Harmonized Classification and Labelling In January, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) opened to the public two consultations on the harmonized classification and labelling of hazardous substances. Both consultations are open until March 12, 2021 and concern the following substances: Proposal to restrict certain substances in children’s diapers French authorities proposed to restrict PAHs, furans, dioxins, formaldehyde and PCBs in single-use baby diapers. The aim is to minimise health risks associated with wearing single-use diapers for children and infants under the age of three. A consultation on the proposal was launched on 21 December and will end on 21 June 2021. Launch of two Forum projects on the verification of authorization obligations and the registration of substances recovered from waste In a press release dated January 22, 2021, ECHA announced the launch of two coordinated REACH implementation projects of the Forum. The first project seeks to verify whether substances of very high concern (SVHC) placed on the EU market have received authorization. This ninth REACH coordinated implementation project (REF-9) involves inspectors who will check whether right holders are complying with the authorization requirements of REACH in order to protect the safety and health of workers, the general public and the environment. Inspections carried out in collaboration with national customs and responsible authorities will focus on obtaining authorization for SVHCs and compliance of the use with the conditions set out in the authorization decisions. The activities of this project will be carried out in 2021 and a report on the results will be available at the end of 2022. The second is a pilot project focusing on the exemption of the recycling sector from the registration of substances recovered from waste. This project, which examines for the first time the interface between REACH and the EU Waste Framework Directive, focuses on recovered substances that fulfil the end-of-waste status. It seeks to verify the compliance of substances recovered from waste with REACH registration, to improve the knowledge of enforcement authorities on exemptions for the waste treatment industry and to raise the awareness of waste operators on REACH obligations. Inspections of the pilot project will be carried out in 2021, while the report with the results of the project is expected in the summer of 2022.
Enforcement assistance documents published in January 2021
FAQ – frequently asked questions Like every month, ECHA updates the answers to the most frequently asked questions, in order to help the application of the Reach and CLP regulations:

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