European Commission — The latest news about safe, sustainable and bio-based materials and products

European Commission publishes draft proposal to restrict microplastics

This proposal could prohibit the use of microplastics in cosmetics, cleaning products, pesticides, and more--covering sources of microplastics that are preventable.

Environment, Leadership, Policy, Regulation, SafetyLeslie HockmanOctober 11, 2022microplastics, European Commission, microplastics in cosmetics, microplastics in cleaning products, microplastics in pesticides, Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Committee, amending Annex XVII to the REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, synthetic polymer microparticlesComment

The road ahead for synthetic chemicals

A new European Commission roadmap reveals future directions for chemical regulation in Europe including maintenance of a rolling list of chemicals considered for risk management measures and grouping of chemically similar substances.

Bio-Based, Environment, Policy, Safety, Risk AnalysisFiona CaseMay 23, 2022synthetic chemicals, European Commission, EU, petroleum, bio-based materials, regrettable substitution, Restrictions Roadmap under the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, REACH, REACH Registry of Intentions, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substancesComment

State of knowledge of soil biodiversity - Status, challenges and potentialities

A report by FAO’s Global Soil Partnership and its Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative, and the European Commission presents the state of knowledge on soil biodiversity, the threats to it, and the solutions that soil biodiversity can provide to problems in different fields.

EnvironmentLeslie HockmanMarch 9, 2022soil biodiversity, FAO, FAO's Global Soil Partnership and its Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative, European Commission, food security, nutritionComment

The European Commission Publishes an Amendment to the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation to include SDS Requirements for Nanoforms.

The European Commission (EC) has published a regulation in the Official Journal of the European Union that amends Annex II of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation.

James EdeAugust 10, 2020nanoforms, European Commission, Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), SDS Requirements for Nanoforms, Official Journal of the European UnionComment

Revised EU Cosmetic Guidance Updates Nanomaterial-specific Considerations

The European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) released its latest guidance on testing and evaluating the safety of cosmetics.

Alternate Testing, Nanomaterials, Leadership, Guidance, Risk AnalysisJames EdeDecember 4, 2018European Commission, Vireo Advisors, European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS), guidance on testing and evaluating the safety of cosmetics, nanomaterials, non-animal testing strategies, weight of evidence/genotoxicity, mutagenicity toolbox, EU cosmetic legislation, gglomeration/aggregation potential, lack of solubility, nanomaterial safety assessmentComment

Improved Clarity on Nanomaterials in the EU: REACH Committee Votes to Amend Annexes

The proposed amendments will be used to help understand which substances registered under REACH are nanomaterials and the quantities being placed on the market.

Nanomaterials, Policy, RegulationJames EdeJune 6, 2018Vireo Advisors, EU, REACH, nanomaterial REACH registration requirements, basic characteristics, uses, safe handling techniques, potential risks to human health and the environment, and how companies are addressing those risks, European Commission, REACH AnnexComment

EU Proposes Updates to Food-Related Risk Assessment

Under new changes proposed by the European Commission, companies would be responsible for reporting all safety studies which were conducted on food-related products [including food contact materials (FCMs)] when submitting them for authorization to European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Regulation, Risk AnalysisJames EdeMay 18, 2018EU Proposes Updates to Food-Related Risk Assessment, European Commission, food-related products, food contact materials (FCMs), EFSA, confidential business information (CBI, EFSA managed register of industry studies for the EU, product authorization requestsComment

Final Opinion on Titanium Dioxide as UV-Filter in Sunscreen Sprays Released by EC

Since sprayable sunscreens containing titanium dioxide in nanoform is available for purchase by consumers, the SCCS advised that “[s]uch uses need to be carefully evaluated so that the chance of harmful effects through consumer’s lung exposure by inhalation is avoided”.

Markets, Nanomaterials, PolicyJames EdeFebruary 8, 2018titanium dioxide (nano), Suncreen spray, SCCS, European Commission, Titanium Dioxide as UV-Filter in Sunscreen Sprays, Vireo Advisors, consumer safety, inhalation exposureComment

JRC Publishes NANoREG Toolbox for the Safety Assessment of Nanomaterials

The Toolbox provides useful tools such as test methods, datasets, models, guidance documents, decision trees, etc., which are available to regulators and others in context of REACH.

Guidance, Nanomaterials, RegulationJames EdeOctober 26, 2017NanoReg, NanoReg Framework, Nanoreg Toolbox, European Union's 7th Framework Program, JRC, Joint Research Center, EC, European Commission, REACHComment

Comments Due for Nanoform-Specific Registration Requirements Proposed for E.U.’s REACH Legislation

On October 9th, 2017, The European Commission (EC) released a Draft Regulation that would amend the E.U.’s REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction) Regulation to address nanoforms.