Policy & Regulation

The governments of Canada and the US are soliciting feedback to inform the ongoing development of binational strategies for managing identified chemicals of mutual concern (CMC), including PCBs and HBCD.

• Bioaccumulative
• Toxic
• US
• Canada

Poor dossier quality is slowing substance evaluation.

• REACH
• Europe

NGO and industry law firm disagree on agency’s interpretation.

• EPA

The European Commission has granted authorisations to five companies for a use of sodium dichromate.

• EU
• Sodium Dichromate

Echa's Member State Committee (MSC) has agreed with a proposal from France that bisphenol A (BPA) is a substance of very high concern (SVHC) due to its endocrine disrupting properties that cause probable serious effects to human health.

• MSC
• BPA
• Endocrine

The US EPA has submitted a guidance document for developing risk evaluations under TSCA to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval.

• TSCA
• EPA

The European Commission has published its amending Regulation to restrict the manufacture, marketing and use of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related substances.

• EU

Canada has added fuel oil, No 2 to schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (Cepa) – the toxic substances list.

• Toxic
• Canada

UK prime minister Theresa May’s failure to secure a majority for her Conservative party at the general election last week could mean a ‘soft’ Brexit is more likely, according to chemical industry associations.

• UK
• Brexit

Publicly naming companies that submit poor quality REACH registration dossiers is not the best way forward, Echa head Geert Dancet has told Chemical Watch.

• REACH

The European Commission has added 12 SVHCs to REACH Annex XIV – the authorisation list.

• EU
• REACH
• Substances

The European Commission, Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers will discuss proposed amendments to the RoHS Directive at their trilogue meeting on 21 June.

• RoHS
• EU

California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has released the first version of the alternatives analysis guide that will be used to support its Safer Consumer Products (SCP) programme.

• Toxic
• Policies

Global demand for liquid silicone rubber is on course to reach $3.29 billion by 2025, according to a report by Grand View Research Inc.

• Rubber

The increase in demand for xanthan gum in food & beverages industry, change in consumer preference, increase in consumption of convenience food products, and rise in demand for gluten-free products drive the global xanthan gum market.

• Xanthan
• Gum
• Food

Textile millers’ demands are unlikely to meet in near future due to lack of funds, revealed the source in the Ministry of Textiles here on Monday.

• Textile
• Demand

Cotton prices in the domestic Australian market will remain strong at above AUD 520 per bale through 2017-18, according to a report by Rabobank. The report cites currency weakness,

• Cotton
• Price

India has imposed anti-dumping duty of up to USD 118 per tonne on import of a chemical used for corrosion control and paper bleaching from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and three other countries.

• Anti-Dumping

The future of global polyurethane (PU) foam market looks good with opportunities in various applications, such as building and construction, bedding and furniture, transportation, electrical and electronics, footwear, and others.

• Polyurethane

A UK-based ingredients firm has tapped into the trend for ‘greener’ diets by developing a bespoke range of batters for deep-fried vegetable snacks.

• Green