An article in the American Laundry News about MSDSs and OSHA inspections:

Most of us will never have to deal with a random Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspection. But if you do, it’s guaranteed to come at the worst possible time.

I recently took a Caribbean cruise vacation with my wife. My plant manager was off recovering from knee surgery, and a supervisor and several team leaders were left to supervise the healthcare laundry. It was then that OSHA decided to pay a surprise visit.

The inspector introduced herself and showed her identification. Our laundry’s name had come up on a randomly generated list, she said. She requested a tour and the following documentation for review: federal ID number; OSHA’s Form 300A (Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) for 2004, 2005 and 2006; “Lockout-Tagout” program; “Confined Space” program; “Exposure” program; “Safety Compliance” program; and our Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) book.

For the full article, see: Inspections Never Come at Good Time.

Nexreg Compliance authors fully compliant OSHA MSDSs. To learn more about our MSDS authoring services, see:

• MSDS Authoring (English)
• MSDS编写 (Chinese – Simplified)
• Création MSDS (French)
• 製品安全データシートの作成  (Japanese)
• MSDS 제작 (Korean)
• Creación de MSDS (Spanish)

To speak to a Nexreg representative about MSDS authoring, please call or e-mail Nexreg at:

Nexreg Canada: (519)488-5126 (London, ON)
Nexreg UK: +44 020 7993 5893 (London, UK)
Nexreg USA: (206)418-6663 (Seattle, WA)
E-mail:info@nexreg.com

An important press release today from the EU on GHS and REACH:

The European Commission today has proposed to align the current EU system of classification of chemical substances and mixtures to the United Nations Globally Harmonised System (GHS). The internationally accepted harmonised classification criteria and labelling elements will be integrated in new EU legislation, replacing the current law on the classification, labelling and packaging of chemical substances (Directive 67/548/EEC) and mixtures (Directive 1999/45/EC). The proposal is an important step on the Community’s part towards global efforts to enhance the protection of human health and the environment from the effects of dangerous chemicals. The harmonisation of requirements at global level will give trade and competitiveness a boost and includes new pictograms. The proposed regulation will complement the new REACH Regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals. The proposal will now be discussed in the European Parliament and in the Council…

The proposal incorporates the classification criteria and labelling rules agreed at UN level, the so called Globally Harmonised System of classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS). It will introduce new classification criteria, hazard symbols (pictograms) and labelling phrases, while taking account of elements which are part of the current EU legislation.

The press release here: Proposal to align classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals to UN standards. More information available here: Implementing the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) in Community Legislation.

Nexreg has more information on GHS at the following links:

• GHS Strategic Planning (English)
• 全球统一制度战略规划 (Chinese – Simplified)
• Planification stratégique SGH (French)
• 化学品の分類と調和に関する世界調和システム (GHS) 戦略的計画 (Japanese)
• GHS 전략 기획 (Korean)
• Planificación Estratégica de GHS (Spanish)

To speak to a Nexreg representative about how GHS will impact your company, please call or e-mail Nexreg at:

Nexreg Canada: (519)488-5126 (London, ON)
Nexreg UK: +44 020 7993 5893 (London, UK)
Nexreg USA: (206)418-6663 (Seattle, WA)
E-mail:info@nexreg.com

The latest from the OEHHA:

The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65 or the Act) which is codified at Health and Safety Code section 25249.5 et seq., requires the Governor to publish, and update at least annually, a list of chemicals known to the State to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. The Act describes the mechanisms for administratively listing chemicals as known to the State to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity (Health and Safety Code section 25249.8.)

One mechanism by which a chemical is listed is if a body considered to be authoritative by the state’s qualified experts has formally identified it as causing cancer or reproductive toxicity. For reproductive toxicity, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) solely as to transplacental carcinogenicity, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) solely as to final reports of the NTP’s Center for Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have been identified as authoritative bodies for purposes of the Act. The criteria for listing chemicals through the “authoritative bodies” mechanism are set forth in Title 22, California Code of Regulations, section 12306…

Following the review of all comments received, OEHHA will announce its intention to proceed with the listing of the candidate chemical if it meets the regulatory criteria for administrative listing in a Notice of Intent to List Chemicals.

Chemical which may meet the criteria set forth in Section 12306 for listing as known to cause reproductive toxicity via the “authoritative bodies” mechanism:

Chemical CAS No. Toxicological Endpoints Reference

Methanol 67-56-1 developmental toxicity NTP-CERHR(2003)

The full notice here: METHANOL UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR POSSIBLE LISTING VIA THE AUTHORITATIVE BODIES MECHANISM: REQUEST FOR RELEVANT INFORMATION.

A piece on Worldink.com on new FDA rules for dietary supplements:

For the first time, manufacturers of vitamins, herbal pills and other dietary supplements will have to test all of their products’ ingredients.

The Food and Drug Administration said Friday it is phasing in a new rule that is designed to address concerns that existing regulations allowed supplements onto the market that were contaminated or didn’t contain ingredients claimed on the label.

Last year, the agency found that some supplements contained undeclared active ingredients used in prescription drugs for erectile dysfunction. In the past, regulators found supplements that didn’t contain the levels of Vitamin C or Vitamin A that were claimed.

If, upon inspection, the FDA finds that supplements do not contain the ingredients they claim, the agency would consider the products adulterated or misbranded. In minor cases, the agency could ask the manufacturer to remove an ingredient or revise its label. In more serious cases, it could seize the product, file a lawsuit or even seek criminal charges.

For the full article, see: FDA issues new regulations on dietary supplements

Worried about REACH? Nexreg’s resident REACH expert gives these tips:

I know deadlines focus the mind, so I wanted give clients some more information about the pre-registration process under REACH.

1. Substances should be pre-registered in order to qualify as ‘phase-in’ substances under REACH, i.e. those that can continue to be sold before a registration. Phase-in substances benefit from the delayed registration timetable.

2. The pre-registration takes place for all existing (EINECS substances) substances between 1 June 2008 and 30 November 2008 (only 6 month window).

3. The formation of the SIEF (Substance Information Exchange Forum – the companies involved in joint registrations) will be formed from the pre-registration information.

4. Pre-registration is simple, but companies have to know what substances they wish to pre-register. Advice is to pre-register your whole product portfolio. This requires breaking down preparations into components for all products exported to the EU (or substances you may in the future wish to export).

Also note a re-formatted version of REACH has been published here.

Nexreg Canada: (519)488-5126 (London, ON)
Nexreg UK: +44 020 7993 5893 (London, UK)
Nexreg USA: (206)418-6663 (Seattle, WA)
E-mail:info@nexreg.com

Just-Style.com on REACH compliance:

New EU regulations that came into force at the beginning of this month require clothing manufacturers and importers to identify and quantify the chemicals used in their products. A series of registration deadlines is due to roll out over the next 15 years, but as Keith Nuthall explains, companies only have until 1 December 2008 to complete the pre-registration process.

Nexreg Compliance provides a full range of REACH compliance services, including registrations and translations. For more information on REACH compliancy, please call or e-mail Nexreg at:

Nexreg Canada: (519)488-5126 (London, ON)
Nexreg UK: +44 020 7993 5893 (London, UK)
Nexreg USA: (206)418-6663 (Seattle, WA)
E-mail:info@nexreg.com

The Edmonton sun discusses new PMRA registrations:

It might generate the biggest buzz among retail mosquito-control products.

That’s what Joel Gosselin is hoping, as his Winnipeg company touts a garlic-heavy repellent called Mosquito Barrier that has brought at least a sweet early smell of success.

The product has become the first such control product registered under a new organics classification by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency, and the so-called “natural” substance – initially developed years ago in the U.S. – has been on some store shelves north of the border for the past couple of weeks.

“This opens up a whole new ball game, where people can use something natural,” Gosselin, president of Viceroy Distributors, told Sun Media yesterday of its potential for warding off Winnipeg’s nuisance bloodsuckers.

For the full article see: Garlic spray all the buzz in war on mosquitoes

A recent news release from the EPA includes the following:

The proposal recommends an ozone standard within a range of 0.070 to 0.075 parts per million (ppm). EPA also is taking comments on alternative standards within a range from 0.060 ppm up to the level of the current 8-hour ozone standard, which is 0.08 ppm…

Ground-level ozone is not emitted directly into the air, but is created through a reaction of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compound emissions in the presence of sunlight. Emissions from industrial facilities, electric utilities, motor vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapors, and chemical solvents are the major man-made sources of these ozone precursors.

EPA also is proposing to revise the “secondary” standard for ozone to improve protection for plants, trees and crops during the growing season. The secondary standard is based on scientific evidence indicating that exposure to even low levels of ozone can damage vegetation. EPA is proposing two alternatives for this standard: a standard that would be identical to the “primary” standard to protect public health; and a cumulative standard aimed at protecting vegetation during the growing season…

The agency will take public comment for 90 days following publication of the proposal in the Federal Register and will hold four public hearings. The hearings will be held in Los Angeles and Philadelphia on Aug. 30, and in Chicago and Houston on Sept. 5.

Information about the EPA’s ground-level ozone proposal is available at: http://epa.gov/groundlevelozone/.

From the May 12th 2007 Canada Gazette: Notice of second release of technical information relevant to substances identified in the Challenge:

Whereas the Government of Canada published on Saturday, December 9, 2006, in the Canada Gazette, Part I, Vol. 140, No. 49, the Notice of intent to develop and implement measures to assess and manage the risks posed by certain substances to the health of Canadians and their environment in which it highlights how it intends to address approximately 200 chemical substances identified as high priorities for action;

Notice is hereby given that the Government of Canada is releasing the technical documentation relevant to the 17 substances listed in Schedule 1, Section 3 to this notice. The Government of Canada challenges interested parties to submit the specific information detailed in the technical documentation…

The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) required that the Government review some 23 000 Domestic Substances List (DSL) substances to determine whether they have certain characteristics which indicate that the Government should assess the risks that may be associated with their continued use in Canada. The Government recently completed this exercise, called categorization. Categorization provides a new information baseline on all identified substances, which will allow the Government of Canada to work with its partners to achieve tangible results that protect Canadians and the environment.

The Ministers of the Environment and of Health (the Ministers) published on Saturday, December 9, 2006, in the Canada Gazette, Part I, Vol. 140, No. 49, the Notice of intent to develop and implement measures to assess and manage the risks posed by certain substances to the health of Canadians and their environment…

The 200 Challenge substances are in commerce or are believed to be in commerce. Should no information be forthcoming through this Challenge to confirm that a substance is in commerce in Canada, the Ministers will conclude, through a screening assessment, that this substance does not satisfy the definition of toxic under section 64 of CEPA 1999. However, given the hazardous properties of this substance, there is concern that new activities for the substance that have not been identified or assessed under CEPA 1999 could lead to the substance meeting the criteria set out in section 64 of the Act. Therefore, it will be recommended that this substance be subject to the Significant New Activity provisions specified under subsection 81(3) of the Act, to ensure that any new manufacture, import or use of this substance in quantities greater than 100 kg/year is reported, and that ecological and human health risk assessments are conducted as specified in section 83 of the Act prior to the substance being introduced into Canada.

Thank you to reader JO for bringing to our attention that we had yet to post this.

From the May 12th 2007 Canada Gazette: Notice of identification of the third batch and the next proposed batches of the remaining substances in the Challenge:

Whereas the Government of Canada published on Saturday, December 9, 2006, in the Canada Gazette, Part I, Vol. 140, No. 49, the Notice of intent to develop and implement measures to assess and manage the risks posed by certain substances to the health of Canadians and their environment in which it is highlighted how it intends to address approximately 200 chemical substances identified as high priorities for action;

Notice is hereby given that the Government of Canada is identifying the 20 substances assigned for batch 3, listed in Schedule 1 to this notice.

In August 2007, the Government of Canada intends to publish technical documentation on these substances and will subsequently challenge interested parties to submit the specific information detailed in the technical documentation.

Notice is also hereby given that the Government of Canada is proposing the substances in batches 4 to 12, listed in Schedule 2 to this notice. Formal notice of identification of substances assigned to a batch will continue to be issued in the Canada Gazette, Part I, three months before a challenge is issued for that batch.

Any person may within 120 days of publication of this notice file comments with respect to the proposed batches 5 to 12. Because the Government of Canada will identify the substances assigned to batch 4 in August 2007, any person may, within 60 days of publication of this notice, file comments with respect to the proposed batch 4.

Thank you to reader JO for bringing to our attention that we had yet to post this.