In November, the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC) issued an opinion regarding the French proposal to limit creosote and creosote-related substances. The aim was to restrict the sale and secondary use of wood treated with these substances. There were only minor discrepancies between the SEAC opinion and the final version. Meanwhile, the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) has adopted several opinions regarding harmonized classification and labelling. For example, the committee intends to add reproductive toxicity of tea-free oil as the most stringent classification.
At the meeting, RAC and SEAC evaluated the outcomes of the public consultation on the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) restriction proposal, initially suggested by Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden in January 2023. The consultation was open from 22 March to 25 September 2023 and attracted an overwhelming 5,642 responses - the most significant number of comments ever submitted on a restriction proposal in the EU history. In response to current circumstances, ECHA is in talks with five national authorities regarding the development of a collective strategy to evaluate the proposal. Once a consensus is reached, the restriction plan will be published.
Both the RAC and the SEAC adopted comments from the Chromium trioxide regarding its following functions:
- Axially/rotationally symmetrical components to ensure low surface friction under lubrication;
- Axially/rotationally symmetrical components requiring high wear resistant surfaces to withstand abrasive forces;
- Components with complex 3-dimensional geometry (not axially/rotationally symmetrical) to ensure low surface friction under lubrication;
- Components with complex 3-dimensional geometry (not axially/rotationally symmetrical) requiring high wear resistant surfaces to withstand abrasive forces;
- Gun barrels and outer jacket surfaces;
- Gun barrel bores and auxiliary parts for assault rifles, carbines and pistols for noncivilian uses;
- Gun barrel bores and auxiliary parts for semi-automatic shotguns, over/under, side-byside shotguns, pistols and carbines for civilian.
RAC also adopted eight opinions on harmonized classification and labelling:
| Plant Protection Products | EC No./CAS No. | Hazard Classification |
| Tea-free oil |
EC: 285-377-1 [1]; CAS: 85085-48-9[1] CAS: 68647-73-4 [2] |
Nine hazard classification Reproductive toxicity (cat.1B) is the most stringent |
|
Flazasulfuron (ISO) 1-(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)-3-(3-trifluoromethyl-2-pyri-dylsulfonyl) urea |
EC:-; CAS: 104040-78-0 |
Adds two additional classification (Aquatic Acute 1; H400; Aquatic Chronic 1; H410) Adds M-factors to the existing classifications (M-factor of 1000 for acute aquatic toxicity; M-factor of 100 for chronic aquatic toxicity) |
|
Fosthiazate (ISO); S-sec-butyl O-ethyl (2-oxo-1,3-thiazolidin-3-yl)phosphonothioate |
EC:-; CAS: 98886-44-3 |
Adds four additional classifications; updates the existing classifications for acute toxicity |
|
Penconazole(ISO); 1-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)pentyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole |
EC: 266-275-6; CAS: 66246-88-6 |
Add one new classification [STOT RE 2; H373 (liver)] |
The RAC reached a consensus on the following substances with regard to industrial chemicals:
| Industrial Products | EC no/CAS no | Hazard classification |
| Reactive Brown 51 |
EC: 466-490-7; CAS:- |
Repr.1B; H360F Skin Ses.1A; H317 |
| [HPMA] Methacrylic acid, monoester with propane-1,2-diol |
EC: 248-666-3; CAS: 27813-02-1 |
STOT SE 3; H335 Eye Irrit.2; H319 Skin Sens.1; H317 STOT SE3 |
| [HEMA] 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate |
EC: 212-782-2; CAS: 868-77-9 |
Skin Irrit.2; H315 Eye Irrit.2; H319 Skin Sens.1; H317 STOT SE3; H335 |
| 4-Phenylbenzophenone |
EC: 218-345-2; CAS: 2128-93-0 |
Repr.1B; H360FD Skin Sens. 1B; H317 Aquatic Acute 1; H400; M=10 Aquatic Chronic 1; H410; M=1 |
The RAC also adopted its opinion on the scientific evaluation of occupational exposure limits (OELs) for Nitrosamines (NDEA, NDMA, NDPA and NDELA).
