From: Prop 65 Clearinghouse Blog

As of October 15, 2010, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced a project to inspect mixture formulators, the companies that purchase chemicals and prepare formulations such as paints, dyes, and industrial compounds. The enforcement project, designed to test REACH compliance, is slated to begin in 2011.

ECHA specifies that the “inspectors will control the supply-chain related obligations for substances in the mixtures prepared by formulators as well as the CLP notification requirements. They will also check if the substances placed on the market in mixtures are registered or pre-registered. In addition, the inspectors will raise awareness of the future obligations for Downstream Users with relation to the extended safety data sheet.”

Click on the links for more information.

From: Health Canada

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister for La Francophonie, today announced new regulations and amendments to an existing regulation under the Hazardous Products Act that will restrict the amount of lead in a variety of consumer products, including children’s toys.

The Government of Canada will reduce lead levels significantly through regulatory limits for products intended for use in play or learning by children under three years of age, as well as some consumer products that are likely to come into contact with the mouth (i.e. baby bottle nipples, soothers, beverage straws, mouthpieces of musical instruments, and sports mouthpieces).

As well, amendments to the Surface Coating Materials Regulations have reduced the amount of lead in consumer paints and other surface coating materials, including those applied on children’s toys and furniture.

Click on the links for more information.

From: Food Quality News

The European Commission said it wants to introduce a region-wide ban on the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles and has launched discussions with member states over the matter.

The decision to pursue a ban on the chemical in polycarbonate baby bottles comes in the wake of an updated opinion delivered by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) at the end of September.

“There have been a few meetings with stakeholders and the Commission has the intention to move towards a ban of BPA in baby bottles,” EC health and consumer spokesman Frederic Vincent told FoodProductionDaily.com. “The Commission is committed to a BPA ban in baby bottles but it will have to be discussed by member states.”

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From: YubaNet

The report, available at www.toxictoysrus.com, was commissioned by the Center for Health, Environment & Justice and Teamsters Office of Consumer Affairs as part of a long-term effort by health, environmental, consumer and labor activists to hold Toys R Us to its word, and ensure that it fully labels all toys containing toxic chemicals, and phases out PVC in toys.

Key findings in the report include:

* 72.5 percent of all toys/children’s products tested contained high levels of chlorine, indicating they were likely made of PVC.

* 20.3 percent of all toys/children’s products tested contained tin, indicating the likely presence of organotins in these toys.

* 52.9 percent of all toy packaging tested contained high levels of chlorine, indicating they were likely made of PVC.

* 52.9 percent of all toy packaging tested contained tin, indicating the likely presence of organotins.

* In the fall 2010 testing, only one of the 60 products that we tested was labeled as containing PVC.

* 81 percent of fall 2010 toys marketed to infants and toddlers 18-36 months and up in age contained chlorine, indicating they were likely made of PVC. 19 percent of these toddler-targeted toys contained tin, indicating the likely presence of organotins in these toys.

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From: Food Quality News

The European Union has confirmed that biological testing for the detection of marine biotoxins will be replaced by a more reliable chemical method from next summer.

The switch will see the mouse bioassay (MBA) ditched in favour of a chemical test to uncover the presence of Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning marine biotoxins (DSP) in bivalve molluscs like mussels, cockles, oysters or scallops.

The EC raised concerns about the efficacy of the MBA last year. This method involves the injection of a shellfish tissue extract into the abdominal cavity of mice, with death of the animal signalling the positive detection of toxins. Of particular concern was the MBA’s ability to detect OA- toxin groups at current EU limits, which was labelled as “inadequate, leading to false negative results in official controls”… The new testing regime, due to be launched in July 2011, will boost the protection of consumer health, said the European Commission yesterday.

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From: Prop 65 Clearinghouse Blog

OEHHA is requesting information as to whether the following chemicals identified below meet the criteria for listing under Proposition 65 as carcinogenic:

- Cocamide diethanolamine
- Kresoxim-methyl
- MON 4660 (dichloroacetyl-1-oxa-4-azaspiro(4.5)-decane)
- MON 13900 (furilazole)
- Pymetrozine
- Tetraconazole

OEHHA is requesting public comment concerning whether these chemicals meet the criteria set forth in the Proposition 65 regulations for authoritative bodies listings. After reviewing all comments received, OEHHA will determine whether the identified chemicals meet the regulatory criteria for administrative listing.

Click on the links for more information.

From: Search Auto Parts

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a significant new use rule (SNUR) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for the chemical substance identified as 1-Propene, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro, also known as HFO-1234yf. The action requires persons who intend to manufacture, import or process the chemical substance for a use that is designated as a significant new use by this final rule to notify the EPA at least 90 days before commencing that activity.

In a letter to the U.S. EPA earlier this year, the Automotive Service Association (ASA) expressed concern with the substitution of HFO-1234yf because it poses some risk to those persons handling the product, particularly nonprofessionals or do-it-yourself (DIY) consumers.

The EPA significant new use rule states that the substance is to be used only as a refrigerant in new motor vehicles, and that any other use must first be approved by the EPA.

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From: Prop 65 Clearinghouse Blog

A recent report issued by the David Suzuki Foundation (DSF) claims that Canada needs stronger rules in keeping toxic chemicals out of its personal care products. According to the report an online survey from earlier this year asked participants to inspect their product ingredient lists for twelve sets of potentially harmful chemicals used as ingredients in cosmetics. The survey resulted in more than 6,200 Canadians participating in the survey, who collectively provided information for 12,500 personal care products. Four out of five of the products entered in the survey contained at least one ingredient with suspected links to environmental or health problems including cancer, reproductive disorders, asthma and severe allergies.

The report identifies several weaknesses in Canada’s cosmetic ingredient labeling and notification requirements. For example, manufacturers are not required to disclose specific fragrance ingredients and instead use the generic term “parfum” on ingredient lists in order to disguise a cocktail of potentially harmful chemicals. Products labeled “unscented” and “fragrance-free” may contain unspecified fragrance ingredients used to mask the odor of other chemicals. “Parfum” was the most commonly reported ingredient, identified in more than half of the products entered in the survey.

For more information on this report, click the above link.

From: ECHA

ECHA has published a Fact Sheet to explain how you can avoid blocking your REACH-IT account and how to proceed if your REACH-IT account is blocked. For security reasons ECHA has limited the number of attempts for users to login to REACH-IT. After five attempts the account will be blocked.

To view this document in one of the 22 official language, please click on the above link.

From: SRS

After taking comments from the public, and by that we mean, the remarks of a handful of advocates and consumers and the complaints of 33 trade organization reps and business owners, the U.S. Product Safety Commission is now preparing to vote on a Final Rule to establish a consumer complaint database.

The creation of the rule began in May, with a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Since then, the CPSC has been striving to maintain the balance between the fears of consumer products manufacturers, the requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), and the suggestions of advocates.

A vote of the full commission is scheduled for Nov. 17. After the Final Rule is passed, the CPSC expects to launch the database in March.

According to Section 212 of the CPSIA, the database must be available through the CPSC website and presented in a user-friendly format that encourages the public to report injuries and defects. In addition to consumer complaints, the database will include the reports that manufacturers and private-label firms are required to make under Section 15(c) of the CPSA and the actions the agency makes in response to that information.

Click on the links for more information.