REACH Update nr. 2, 2022

EU REACH

• Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)
• Do you have information on uses of eight substances proposed for authorisation?

EU PFAS

• New research shows that PFAS are released when using water- and dirt-repellent outdoor clothing
• Giving fashion a sustainable helping hand with a water-repellent coating 

USA

• Counterfeits Crammed With Toxic Chemicals, AAFA Says 
• California identified PFOA as Carcinogenic chemical under prop 65

Vietnam

• Implementing the Environmental Protection Law, Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP

Other News

• Safer chemicals podcast
• NEW Chemical Watch Podcast available 
• WWF publishes principles for effective chemical recycling 
• OEKO-TEX® - New regulations 2022
• Biocide meeting Government and market parties 2022

EU REACH
Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)
Seven notifications of authorization and permitted use have been made for various substances. OJEU C 131 of 24 March 2022 contains seven summaries of a decision of the European Commission concerning marketing authorizations for use and/or use of substances included in Annex XIV to Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Deregistration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). Read more>>

Do you have information on uses of eight substances proposed for authorisation?
ECHA invites comments on its proposal to include eight substances of very high concern in the REACH Authorisation List. Comments can be given by 2 May 2022.
Helsinki, 2 February 2022 – ECHA considers recommending eight new substances for the European Commission to include in the Authorisation List (Annex XIV to REACH). The substances are listed in the annex to this news release. Read more>>

EU PFAS
New research shows that PFAS are released when using water- and dirt-repellent outdoor clothing
When using water and dirt-repellent outdoor clothing, PFAS can be released, according to a new study by the Free University of Amsterdam. It had been known for some time that PFAS (persistent poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances) could be released during the production of these products, but now it appears that these are also released when wearing these clothes, writes FashionUnited. Read more>> (the original article is in Dutch).

Giving fashion a sustainable helping hand with a water-repellent coating 
One of the showpieces of the young company Lamoral on the Brightlands Chemelot Campus is a water-repellent coating on textiles.One of the showpieces of the young company Lamoral on the Brightlands Chemelot Campus is a water-repellent coating on textiles. Without fluorine, so no PFAS or other junk ends up in the environment. Several major sports brands are currently testing the possibilities, writes Innovations Origin. Read more>> (the original article is in Dutch).

USA
Counterfeits Crammed With Toxic Chemicals, AAFA Says 
The American Apparel & Footwear Association has unveiled a study that highlights the dangers that counterfeit goods - flooding the market - present for consumers. AAFA worked with Intertek, a highly respected international total quality assurance provider to test counterfeit products for a range of hazardous chemicals and heavy metals. Today, AAFA releases a summary of findings from the laboratory review, reports AAFA. Read more>>

California identified PFOA as Carcinogenic chemical under prop 65
The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) announces1 the addition of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) to the list of chemicals known2 to the state to cause cancer for purposes of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (known as CA Proposition 65). This amendment takes effect from 25 February 2022 writes TUV Sud. Read more>>

Vietnam
Implementing the Environmental Protection Law, Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP
On 10 January 2022, the Vietnamese Government issued Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP providing guidance on the provisions of Law No. 72/2020/QH14 on Environmental Protection. The Decree sets out key policy actions to improve environmental protection and describes the roadmap and responsibilities to support the transition to the Circular Economy and contains various provisions to phase-out the use of single-use plastic and implement extended producer responsibility schemes for certain products and packaging.

Section 3 of Chapter IV (Art. 38-41) deals with persistent pollutants (POPs). Inter alia, products, goods, and equipment containing persistent pollutants must be labelled and disclose information in accordance with Article 39. Organisations and individuals that import, produce, and use POPs listed in Appendix XVII shall also register with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Article 64 deals with single-use and non-degradable plastic products and packaging. Non-biodegradable plastic products and packaging, and products containing micro-plastics must be labelled in Vietnamese with the appropriate information before being placed on the market.

From January 1, 2026, the production and import of non-biodegradable plastic bags with dimensions smaller than 50 cm x 50 cm and a film thickness of less than 50 μm will be prohibited. Organisations and individuals that manufacture and import single-use plastic products and non-biodegradable plastic packages shall be responsible for recycling and handling plastic waste in accordance with the provisions of the Decree.

The Decree provides for the progressive phase-out of single-use plastic products, non-biodegradable plastic packaging and products containing microplastics.  From December 31, 2030, the production and import of single-use plastics products (except for products certified with Vietnam’s eco-label), non-biodegradable plastic packaging (incl. non-biodegradable plastic bags), biodegradable plastic packaging and goods containing microplastics will be prohibited.

Chapter VI makes manufacturers and importers of the products (incl. packaging) specified in Annex XXII responsible for their recycling. This includes waste electrical and electronic equipment (light bulbs, solar panels, refrigeration equipment, mobile phones, cameras, televisions, appliances, air conditioning equipment, etc.), batteries, vehicles (incl. motorcycles and e-bikes), machinery, and packaging.
The compulsory recycling rates for each type of product and packaging are specified in Annex XXII.

Manufacturers and importers need to register recycling plans and report recycling results annually before March 31, and pay a contribution to the Environmental Protection Fund to support recycling. Manufacturers and importers are responsible for marking and labelling their products and packaging to facilitate recycling.

Chapter X, section 3 outlines the roadmap and key government actions to transition to the Circular Economy. Per article 138, the transition to the Circular Economy shall be based on the following criteria:

• increasing water and energy efficiency in production processes;
• extending the life-span of products, equipment and their components; including through reuse, repair (repair or maintain defective products to increase their service life); refurbishment (restore and upgrade old products), remanufacturing (using components, components, components of waste products for similar functions); change of intended use (using discarded products or components and components for new products with other functions);
• reducing of waste generation and associated impacts on the environment (i.e. solid waste, wastewater, harmful chemicals);
• collection , storage and treatment of rainwater for reuse;
• reducing single-use plastic products.

This Decree came into force on 10 January 2022.

Other News
Safer chemicals podcast
Whether you work with chemicals, have an interest in how they affect us and the environment, or work as a journalist or decision maker in the field of manufactured chemicals, the Safer Chemicals Podcast is for you. We give you the latest updates on how chemicals are being regulated in the EU and which harmful chemicals are being phased out.

Chemical Watch Podcast
Get fresh insight into the biggest stories and developments taking place in the world of chemicals regulation and management every week
EU chemical strategy, Asia forecast, science developments. Click here.

WWF publishes principles for effective chemical recycling
Today, as part of the No Plastic in Nature vision, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) released Chemical Recycling Implementation Principles. These principles aim to help decision makers determine if and how chemical recycling—an emerging technology with unknown environmental and social outcomes—should be pursued as a plastic waste mitigation tactic.  Alix Grabowski, director of plastic and material science at WWF said. Read more>>

OEKO-TEX® - New regulations 2022
OEKO-TEX® has published the annual update of existing guidelines as well as the valid test criteria and limit values for their certifications and services. In addition to updates to the limit value catalogue, the Impact Calculator for STeP by OEKO-TEX® is now available to textile companies. 
Detailed information is available in the webinar recording or from our experts. Read more>>

Biocide meeting Government and market parties 2022
On January 18, 2022, an online meeting was held with market parties (which in this context means: 'non-government parties') involved in biocide policy. This meeting is part of the biocides policy exploration carried out on behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, for what the ministry refers to as 'regular maintenance' of the biocide policy. The meeting built on two reports in which the bottlenecks experienced by market and government parties regarding the policy for and handling of biocides were recorded, as well as their ideas for possible solutions.[1], [2] The aim of the present meeting was to to share the general picture that emerges from this, and to jointly consider which of the suggested solutions are desirable and promising and who can play a role in their elaboration. MODINT was present at this meeting. If you have any questions about the use and application of biocides in your products, please contact Antonio Barberi Ettaro.