Archives

July 26, 2017

EC Publishes Final Report of Nanocomput Project

In July 2017, the European Commission’s (EC) Joint Research Center (JRC) published a report entitled Evaluation of the availability and applicability of computational approaches in the safety assessment of nanomaterials:  Final report of the Nanocomput project.  The main aims of the Nanocomput Project were to review and assess the current status of computational methods that are potentially useful for predicting the properties of engineered nanomaterials to provide advice on the use of...
July 5, 2017

ECHA Announces Two Decisions on Appeals Related to Nanomaterials

On June 30, 2017, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Board of Appeal published two decisions related to nanomaterials.  In the July 5, 2017, issue of ECHA Weekly, ECHA states that the Board of Appeal “largely upheld the appeals and annulled most of the requests for information.”  In Cases A-014-2015 and A-015-2015, registrants appealed the same 2015 ECHA decision requesting information on synthetic amorphous silica (SAS) following a substance evaluation by the Netherlands Competent...
May 24, 2017

ECHA Publishes REACH Guidance for Nanomaterials

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced on May 24, 2017, publication of five documents that it intends to help registrants preparing dossiers that cover nanoforms ahead of the 2018 registration deadline under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation.  ECHA published two new guidance documents: Nano-specific appendix to Chapter R.6 of the Guidance on information requirements and chemical safety assessment...
May 16, 2017

ECHA Creates Web Page for Nanomaterials Expert Group

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has created a web page for the Nanomaterials Expert Group (NMEP), which was created in October 2012.  NMEP aims to seek common ground among experts on scientific and technical issues regarding the implementation of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation, the Classification, Labeling, and Packaging (CLP) regulation, and the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) for nanomaterials.  ECHA...
May 8, 2017

JRC Publishes NANoREG Framework for the Safety Assessment of Nanomaterials

The European Commission (EC) Joint Research Center (JRC) has published a Science for Policy report entitled NANoREG framework for the safety assessment of nanomaterials.  The report was developed within the NANoREG project, “A common European approach to the regulatory testing of nanomaterials.”  The NANoREG framework represents the project’s proposal for a common understanding in the field of environmental health and safety (EHS) assessment of nanomaterials under the...
May 4, 2017

NanoMONITOR Begins Survey to Refine Design of Real-Time Information and Monitoring System

NanoMONITOR announced on May 3, 2017, the launch of a survey intended to refine the design of the real-time information and monitoring system to support the risk assessment of nanomaterials under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation.  NanoMONITOR states that the ten-minute survey will help it: Elicit stakeholders’ requirements on the NanoMONITOR web platform; Elicit stakeholders’ requirements on the NanoMONITOR station...
April 17, 2017

NanoMONITOR Demo Version Now Available Online

NanoMONITOR, a project partly funded by the European Commission Life+ with grant agreement LIFE14 ENV/ES/000662, is intended to develop a real-time information and monitoring system to support the risk assessment of nanomaterials under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation.  The overall objective of the NanoMONITOR project is to improve the use of environmental monitoring data to support the implementation of REACH and to promote the...
March 13, 2017

NanoMONITOR Workshop Will Examine Supporting the Risk Assessment of Nanomaterials under REACH

NanoMONITOR’s first stakeholders’ day, April 4, 2017, will include a workshop on “Development of a real-time information and monitoring system to support the risk assessment of nanomaterials under REACH.”  The overall aim of the NanoMONITOR project is to develop a prototype system to generate robust, accessible, comparable, and interoperable environmental and indoor air monitoring data to support the implementation of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction...
March 6, 2017

ECHA Board of Appeal Annuls Contested Decision Concerning Titanium Dioxide

On March 2, 2017, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced that its Board of Appeal issued its decision in Case A-011-2014, which concerns a Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) dossier evaluation for titanium dioxide.  In its evaluation, ECHA considered only the substance identity information required and not the information requirements for human health and environmental effects.  The Contested Decision required...
February 28, 2017

Draft REACH Guidance Documents on Nanomaterials Move to CARACAL for Review

According to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) website, several Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) guidance documents concerning nanomaterials have moved to the next step in the consultation process.  The draft recommendations for nanomaterials applicable to the guidance on quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) and grouping of chemicals was sent to the Competent Authorities for REACH and Classification, Labeling, and...
February 28, 2017

Another Draft REACH Guidance Document on Nanomaterials Moves to CARACAL for Review

According to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) website, the draft Guidance on information requirements and Chemical Safety Assessment:  Appendix R7-1 Recommendations for nanomaterials applicable to Chapter R7a Endpoint specific guidance and Appendix R7-2 Recommendations for nanomaterials applicable to Chapter R7c Endpoint specific guidance has been sent to the Competent Authorities for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and...
January 24, 2017

Committees Reviewing Draft Appendix on Recommendations for Nanomaterials Applicable to the Guidance on Registration

On January 13, 2017, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) sent the draft appendix on recommendations for nanomaterials applicable to the guidance on registration to the Forum, Member State Committee, and Risk Assessment Committee for consultation.  The draft guidance outlines the minimum elements potential registrants need to consider when registering substances that fulfil the European Commission’s (EC) Recommendation for the definition of nanomaterial.  The aim of the...
December 14, 2016

Draft REACH Guidance Documents for Nanomaterials Move to Next Consultation Step

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced in its December 14, 2016, ECHA Weekly that the following drafts for updated ECHA guidance on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation have moved to the next consultation step and been sent to the Member State Committee for review: Guidance on recommendations for nanomaterials for environmental endpoints: Appendix R7-1 Recommendations for nanomaterials applicable to Chapter R7a Endpoint...
November 28, 2016

Company Announces First REACH Registration of Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes

On October 13, 2016, OCSiAl announced that it is the first manufacturer of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) to complete Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) registration.  According to OCSiAl, the registration was successfully completed thanks to the collaboration between OCSiAl’s Health and Safety Department, Envigo, and Intertek, which jointly completed the work involved in demonstrating compliance with the standards and requirements of...
October 25, 2016

ECHA Board of Appeal Annuls Four Decisions Requesting Substance Identity Information on a Nano Structured Substance

In cases A-008-2015, A-009-2015, A-010-2015, and A-011-2015, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Board of Appeal examined appeals against compliance check decisions made by ECHA requesting further substance identity information from four registrants of a “nano structured” substance.  As reported in our July 29, 2015, blog item, ECHA adopted the contested decisions on December 17, 2014, following a compliance check under the dossier evaluation procedure of the...
July 12, 2016

EC Denies 2014 Petition Seeking EU-Wide Ban on Nanoparticles

On June 29, 2016, the European Commission (EC) provided a notice to the European Parliament regarding its response to a 2014 petition calling for a European Union (EU)-wide ban on microplastics and nanoparticles.  The petition summary states:  “Nanoparticles are so small that they penetrate cells effortlessly and can damage them, causing cancer.  Because the precautionary principle applies in the EU, the petitioner urges a ban on these small particles as soon as possible.”  In its...
June 9, 2016

ECHA Consults PEGs on Nanomaterial Guidance Documents

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) recently submitted several draft guidance documents concerning nanomaterials to Partner Expert Groups (PEG) for consultation.  Following consultation with PEGs, ECHA will consult its committees and/or Forum, where relevant.  The final consultation will be with the European Commission (EC) and the relevant Competent Authorities.  To ensure that the guidance updating process is transparent and open to participation by relevant partners, ECHA will...
June 2, 2016

Germany Publishes Report on Nanomaterials in the Environment

On June 1, 2016, the German Environment Agency (UBA) published a report entitled Nanomaterials in the environment:  Current state of knowledge and regulations on chemical safety.  The aim of the report is to outline the necessary further development of chemicals regulations for nanomaterials with regard to the environment from UBA’s perspective.  The report is addressed “particularly to players and decision-makers involved in discussions related to the adaptation of the various...
February 6, 2016

EC Publishes Inception Impact Assessment Concerning Possible REACH Annex Amendments for Registration of Nanomaterials

On February 2, 2016, the European Commission (EC) published an inception impact assessment concerning “Possible amendments of Annexes to REACH for registration of nanomaterials.”  According to the inception impact assessment, the EC identified a need for more specific requirements for nanomaterials to ensure further clarity on how nanomaterials are addressed and safety demonstrated in registration dossiers to attain the aims of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and...
January 15, 2016

EU Publishes Regulation Regarding REACH Joint Submission of Data and Data Sharing

On January 6, 2016, the European Union (EU) published its Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/9 regarding the joint submission of data and data sharing under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) in the Official Journal of the European Union.  The European Commission (EC) Competent Authorities for REACH and CLP (CARACAL) has been developing this Regulation to clarify further what is meant by determining data sharing in a “fair,...