4,4'-sulphonyldiphenol (EC/List number 201-250-5; CAS 80-09-1), added to the Community rolling action plan list in 2014 and evaluated by Belgium.

Corrigendum for a substance evaluation conclusion document published on 12 November 2021:

• Tris(methylphenyl) phosphate (List number 809-930-9; CAS 1330-78-5), added to the Community rolling action plan list in 2014 and evaluated by the Netherlands.

European Commission decisions on applications for authorisation

The Commission has granted five authorisations for uses of Chromium trioxide (EC 215-607-8; CAS 1333-82-0). Review period expiry dates are in brackets:

• 2 uses applied for by Oras Oy (31 December 2028)
• 1 use applied for by Oras Olesno Sp. z o.o (31 December 2028)
• 2 uses applied for by Viega GmbH & Co. KG (31 December 2028)

Assessment of regulatory needs reports published

New proposals to harmonise classification and labelling

Four proposals have been submitted for:

• [ethylenebis[nitrilobis(methylene)]]tetrakisphosphonic acid, sodium salt (EC 244-742-5; CAS 22036-77-7)
• [ethylenebis[nitrilobis(methylene)]]tetrakisphosphonic acid, calcium sodium salt (EC 287-370-9; CAS 85480-89-3
• [ethylenebis[nitrilobis(methylene)]]tetrakisphosphonic acid, potassium salt (EC 251-910-1; CAS 34274-30-1)
• [ethane-1,2-diylbis[nitrilobis(methylene)]]tetrakisphosphonic acid (EC 215-851-5; CAS 1429-50-1

Ad hoc consultation on harmonised classification and labelling

Denmark has submitted a proposal to harmonise classification and labelling of:

• 3-iodo-2-propynyl butylcarbamate; 3-iodoprop-2-yn-1-yl butylcarbamate (EC 259-627-5; CAS 55406-53-6)

After the consultation of the classification and labelling report ended on 17 February 2023, Denmark provided additional information on acute inhalation toxicity. The Committee of Risk Assessment will take the new information into account when developing its opinion.

Have your say on the additional information through our webform by 5 May 2023. The comments will be published on our website.

Watch online: webinar on analysis of alternatives and tools to support biocides substitution

The webinar features several tools and initiatives to help stakeholders move to safer alternatives. Join us on 26 April at 15:00 Helsinki time.

Our live panel includes speakers from the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the German Environment Agency and the International Chemical Secretariat.

The recording will be available on our website directly after the webinar.

European Court of Justice partially annuls authorisation decision for certain uses of chromium trioxide

The European Court of Justice has annulled the Commission's decision of 18 December 2020 (Chemservice GmbH and others) granting an authorisation for certain uses of chromium trioxide. The reasons were the following:

1. The Commission authorised uses of chromium trioxide on the basis of a risk assessment to human health which did not meet the requirements of Article 60(4) to REACH.
   
   
2. The Commission was not in a position to conclude that there are no suitable alternatives for the authorised uses.

The Court further decided that the effects of the Commission decision should be maintained for one year until the Commission has taken a new decision. 

The judgment is available at the following link: Judgment C-144/21

Advocate General proposes to uphold siloxanes restriction and SVHC decisions

In her non-binding opinions, the Advocate General of the European Court Justice considered that two appeals challenging the General Court’s judgments in relation to the substances D4, D5 and D6 should be dismissed.

The first case (C-558/21 P) concerns a restriction on substances D4 and D5 in wash-off cosmetic products, which the General Court had upheld.

The second case (C-559/21 P) is about whether the General Court correctly upheld ECHA’s decision to identify substances D4, D5 and D6 as substances of very high concern (SVHC) because of their persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT)/very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) properties.

More information in the opinions: C-559/21 P and C-558/21 P.

New decision on learning and memory investigations in an EOGRTS

Cases A-002-2022 and A-003-2022 concern a compliance check decision requiring an extended one generation reproductive toxicity study (EOGRTS) under REACH Annex IX, with additional investigations on learning and memory function in cohorts 2A and 2B.

The Board of Appeal held that those additional investigations are not an information requirement under cohorts 2A and 2B.

The EUON is looking for topics for its upcoming studies. Submit your proposal by 27 April 2023 and potentially contribute to the work of the observatory.