The European Union (EU) Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) announced on November 16, 2020, the results of a study on how citizens perceive nanomaterials and their potential risks to human health and the environment. According to EUON, the study found that general awareness about the nature, characteristics, and properties of nanomaterials is low. EUON notes that the level of awareness has increased compared to earlier surveys, however, and is expected to continue...
Category: International
November 24, 2020
EFSA Publishes Environmental Risk Assessment of the Application of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in the Food and Feed Chain
On November 19, 2020, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a report entitled “Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) of the application of nanoscience and nanotechnology in the food and feed chain.” The authors analyzed existing ERA guidance documents for their adequacy to cover issues that are specific for nanomaterials, but note that none of the guidance has a specific focus on the food and feed chain. Each nanospecific issue was addressed by briefly reviewing the...
November 23, 2020
China Issues Final Guidance for Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances
The Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) Order No. 12, “Measures on the Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances,” will replace the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) Order No. 7, “Measures of Environmental Management of New Chemical Substances,” on January 1, 2021. To implement MEE Order No. 12, the MEE issued in final its “Guidance for Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances” (Guidance) on November 17, 2020,...
November 12, 2020
Let’s talk about Europe — A Conversation with Bjorn Hansen, Executive Director of ECHA
November 6, 2020
EC Approves Sweden’s Prolongation Of Tax Exemption For Biofuels
By Lynn L. Bergeson On October 8, 2020, the European Commission (EC), under the European Union (EU) State aid rules, approved the prolongation of tax exemptions for biofuels in Sweden. Having exemptions for liquid biofuels from energy and carbon emissions taxation since 2002, Sweden’s scheme aims to increase biofuels use while reducing the fossil fuels use in transport. With EC’s decision, the tax exemption has now been prolonged by one year from January 1, 2021, until...
November 6, 2020
Manitoba Government Working On Amendments To Biofuels Mandates
By Lynn L. Bergeson The government of Manitoba, Canada, is currently working to amend three regulations under the Biofuels Act. The amendments will update Manitoba’s clean fuel standards by increasing the ethanol and renewable fuel content in gasoline. The proposed amendments include: “Ethanol General Regulation is amended to: Include the latest fuel standards for ethanol blended gasoline; Remove the quarterly reporting requirements of obligated entities; and...
November 4, 2020
China Publishes Final Notice on Convergence Matters Related to Transition from MEP Order No. 7 to MEE Order No. 12
The Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), formerly the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP), released the final Notice on Convergence Matters Related to Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances on October 27, 2020. Different from the draft Notice published in early June, new chemical substance registrations submitted and accepted by MEE before December 31, 2020, will be reviewed and approved under current MEP Order No. 7 until June...
October 29, 2020
What’s Going on with the Brexit Transition Period? — A Conversation with Jane S. Vergnes, Ph.D.
The transition period for the United Kingdom’s (UK) exit from the European Union (EU) will end on December 31, 2020. At the end of the transition period, the EU Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation will be brought into UK law under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 as amended by the European Union (Withdrawal) Agreement 2020. The UK intends to replicate EU REACH, and related legislation, with the necessary changes to make...
The Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) released the “Law on Safety of Hazardous Chemicals (Draft for Consultation)” (LSHC) on October 2, 2020, to replace the “Regulations on Safe Management of Hazardous Chemicals” (Decree No. 591). The deadline to submit comments to MEM regarding the LSHC is November 1, 2020. Comments can be submitted to MEM via e-mail (yjbzfs@163.com). What Is New? The draft LSHC was first introduced in 2017. This draft revision will replace the...