KemiDigi is progressing and will soon be commissioned
The KemiDigi project (digital chemical data management) involves collecting information on chemicals in one place and simplifying companies’ obligations to submit information on chemicals. Among other things, companies can use the system to submit chemical notifications on the chemicals they have placed on the market and maintain the chemical lists they require for permits and monitoring etc. The chemical ratio calculator for determining the operating level of chemical plants (Act on the Safe Handling and Storage of Dangerous Chemicals and Explosives) will also be moved to KemiDigi in connection with the chemical lists.
The KemiDigi pilot has ended for companies
KemiDigi was piloted in two parts. During the summer, companies tested the submission of chemical notifications through KemiDigi. Testing of the list of chemicals was performed in October. Companies have given encouraging comments and useful feedback on the pilots. They have given constructive comments and development ideas for KemiDigi.
Introduction of KemiDigi
KemiDigi will be introduced in two parts in early 2019. The submission of chemical notifications will begin in February and the list of chemicals will become functional in April 2019.
The collection of quantity information from chemical notifications for 2018 will not, on this occasion, be carried out at the beginning of March, but through KemiDigi at a time to be announced later.
Due to the introduction of KemiDigi, the current e-mail submission of chemical notifications to the Chemical Product Register will end on 30 November 2018. After then, notifications can be submitted to
KemiDigi in February 2019. Chemical notifications submitted by the end of November will be transferred from the old system to KemiDigi and all valid notifications will be available to companies.
The list of chemicals held by Tukes for supervision in accordance with the Act on the Safe Handling and Storage of Dangerous Chemicals and Explosives will mainly be moved to KemiDigi in the early part of the year. In this way, they will form a basis for the chemicals list in KemiDigi, when economic operators log into KemiDigi for the first time. The exception is the list of chemicals that do not yet have classifications under the CLP regulation.
Guidelines on KemiDigi and its use will be provided in a range of formats prior to the introduction of the application. Written guidelines, video clips and live events are forthcoming.
Further information:
KemiDigi: https://tukes.fi/kemidigi. Minna Valtavaara, Project Manager (minna.valtavaara(at)tukes.fi)
Chemical Product Register: tuoterekisteri(at)tukes.fi
Chementors met the Minister of Economic Affairs of Finland in Vietnam
Chementors Ltd had an honor to attend “We Love Finland” event in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on Thursday October 18th. The center of the event organized by Business Finland was the Minister of Economic Affairs of Finland Mika Lintilä with his delegation. In addition to Minister delegation, Business Finland had invited Finnish companies operating in Vietnam and their local partners to attend the event. The main story of the evening was breaking news from the EU Commission to present EU–Vietnam trade and investment agreements for signature and conclusion. To-be-ratified agreements will substantially strengthen the bind between the EU and Vietnam both in trade and investment maintaining the positive trend which Vietnamese economics and industry have enjoyed recent years. The trade agreement also includes a strong, legally binding commitment to sustainable development, including the respect of human rights, labor rights, environmental protection and the fight against climate change, with an explicit reference to the Paris Agreement.
In discussion with Minister Mika Lintilä (on the right), CEO of Chementors Ltd Jani Määttä emphasized Chementors having a significant role regarding to Vietnam–EU trade. Chementors helps Vietnamese exporting industry to comply with the strict chemical legislation of the EU and thereby secure the smooth export process.
Chementors held a seminar in Hanoi in association with Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry
“Solutions for EU chemical regulation compliance”
Chementors held a seminar at VCCI Tower, Hanoi in association with Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Vietnamese Chemical Agency Vinachemia was also invited to inform about the implementation of Global Harmonising System in Vietnam.
The Vice Chairman of VCCI, Mr. Hoang Quang Phong, and the ambassador of Finland in Vietnam, Mr. Kari Kahiluoto, were the opening speakers in the seminar on EU chemicals regulation addressed to the Vietnamese trade and industry cluster, held on November 16th, 2018.
Chementors’ CEO Mr. Jani Määttä and COO Mr. Jan Nylund had two presentations each during the three-hour seminar. The REACH regulation and declaration of compliance and enforcement were two of the major topics covered in the seminar. Important information on European chemicals legislation was given, but also important national regulations in Vietnam were covered.
Despite the strict organizing schedule, VCCI managed to gather a substantial number of participants to receive important information, which might prove to be useful in the future when the EVFTA EU-Vietnam free trade agreement in the EU Parliament is ratified. The event was nationally reported by newspapers and television.
Chementors would sincerely like to thank the VCCI organization for making this happen, Vinachemia for their participation, and all the participants in the seminar. In addition, we would also like to convey our appreciation to the Vice Chairman of VCCI and the ambassador of Finland for their opening addresses.
The impact of CLP regulation update on trade and industry
The CLP Regulation (“Classification, Labeling and Packaging”) is based on Regulation No 1272/2008 of the European Union on chemicals, concerning the classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals. The EU Regulations are updated frequently, resulting in costly changes in safety data sheets and labelling maintenance. Poorly timed large label batch orders just prior to a significant update, might cause substantial economic losses.
The eighth technical adaptation (EU) 2016/918 of the CLP Regulation entered into force on 01.02.2018 and includes changes to the classification criteria and the hazard and safety precautions. Therefore, it is important for chemical classifiers to update their data and act according to these changes.
Safety data sheets and product labels in accordance with the CLP Regulation are a significant part of the company’s image and brand. Chementors Ltd. compiles branded high-quality safety data sheets, which serves your company as “business cards”. In addition, when the content of the product label is in compliance with the regulation and matching the safety data sheet, it will have a great impact on your company’s image.
The CLP Regulation was substantially modified also in March 2017, as the Annex VIII (EU) 2017/542 was added. The purpose implementing this annex is to harmonize the information provided to the national poison control centres operating in the EU, to avoid previously appeared problems with identifying mixtures, which caused confusion in patient care. Annex VIII increases the amount of required information, compared to national chemical notifications. The new notification shall also include information on the non-hazardous ingredients, if their content is at least 1%. In addition, the new notification must indicate the type and size of the packaging. European Chemicals Agency is under process of preparing a specific information portal to submit the new notifications. It should be operational by Q1/2019. More information of the portal and its phases can be found here.
The Annex obliges to include the Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) either on the package, or in industrial use, on the Safety Data Sheet. UFI is an ID which enables reliable recognition of the mixture. You can create the UFI code on-line on the website of the European Chemicals Agency: https://ufi.echa.europa.eu/.
Please note that the obligations of the Annex VIII will be implemented in three phases. The obligations of Annex VIII will apply to retail products from 01.01.2020, the obligations take effect on the products for professional uses from 01.01.2021 and the obligations become effective on the products for industrial uses from 01.01.2024. However, should the marketer of the product make the national chemical notification by the deadline, they can benefit of the transition period until 01.01.2025. This requires that the product has not been modified during the transition period.
Chementors Ltd. considers the future changes with their clients already now.
Ten new substances added to EU REACH candidate list
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has added ten substances of very high concern (SVHC) to the REACH candidate list. The updated list currently contains 191 substances.
Four of the new candidates – octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4); decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5); dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (D6); and Bbnzo[ghi]perylene – were added due to their persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) and very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) properties. A fifth – terphenyl hydrogenated – has only vPVB properties.
ECHA’s Member State Committee identified siloxanes D4, D5 and D6 as SVHCs last week despite strong criticism from industry. The latter said the committee “had not taken full account of the whole body of scientific evidence” and cited “extremely low” levels in the real environment.
The use of D4 and D5 is already restricted in wash-off personal care products at a concentration equal to or greater than 0.1% by weight.
The agency added three other substances to the candidate list due to their toxic for reproduction properties. These are lead; disodium octaborate; and dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP). DCHP is also included in the list due to its endocrine disrupting effects on human health.
The remaining two – ethylenediamine (EDA) and benzene-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid 1,2 anhydride (trimellitic anhydride) (TMA) – were added due to their respiratory sensitising properties.
The European Commission identified TMA and DCHP as SVHCs in April, following referrals from the MSC.
The Commission said in its implementing Regulation on TMA that the data presented and discussed in the Annex XV dossier show it causes serious and permanent impairment of lung functions if the exposure is prolonged and no intervention takes place. This view is in line with the majority opinion of the MSC.
Sweden made the original proposal to identify DCHP as an SVHC due to its ED properties affecting human health (Article 57(f)), but later withdrew it. Then MSC failed to reach a unanimous agreement on its identification under Article 57(f).
The country also proposed the identification of lead as an SVHC. The metal is forbidden in the EU in small items due to a higher health risk for children from ingestion.
More information of these new entries (their uses in products etc.) can be found here.
Chementors is Your compliant and reliable partner with substance registrations.
SmartCHEM Summit 2018
Welcome to the SmartCHEM Summit 2018!
Turku Science Park Ltd. arranges SmartCHEM Summit 2018 which presents the latest innovations in bio-based production and solutions for creating new business from side-streams. The event gathers industry, growth companies, experts and academics from Finland and Europe on May 22nd 2018 to the brand new Visitor and Innovation Centre Joki in Turku, Finland.
After the event, IBC Finland organizes a Hackathon together with the BiOpen project, to which all seminar attendees are warmly welcome to discuss sustainable solutions under several theme tables.
In the evening at 7 pm is organized a get-together for SmartCHEM participants at Aboa Vetus Ars Nova (Itäinen Rantakatu 4-6).
REGISTER YOURSELF TO THE TOP BIO- AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY EVENT OF THE YEAR HERE!
How can we develop our services for you?
Chementors makes your life easier by fulfilling your wishes and requests related to chemical substances or products. To find out where we stand today, we developed a short survey and a tool for us to improve and develop our practices based on your opinions. We wish that you could help us to develop our operations in a way that could benefit you the most from our business relationship.
This link will take you to the survey. Answering the survey takes only five minutes, but your feedback to Chementors may result in a more effective and a better service in the future, which can save your time tremendously!
Thank you in advance for your effort to make our co-operation more fruitful. Please answer by 15.4.2018.
CEO
Jani Määttä
Amsterdam, Netherlands, 17-19 April 2018
The leading global event for personal care ingredients
The exhibition brings together up to 800 international exhibitors of ingredients, fragrances, lab equipment, testing and regulatory solutions with up to 9,000 cosmetic manufacturers worldwide.
in-cosmetics Global is the global launch place for innovation in ingredients and technologies, providing high-level scientific education and consumer insights for formulators, R&D and regulatory professionals.
Showcasing industry trends throughout the world, in-cosmetics Global offers you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the latest innovations, understand new developments in personal care ingredients and network with the world’s personal care ingredients community.
Like last year, Chementors is attending as well, introducing services regarding to EU chemical regulations but also welcomes companies aiming at the Asian markets. Should you prefer to set up a meeting in advance, please contact: antti.aalto@chementors.eu.
Inspectors find phthalates in toys and asbestos in second-hand products
In an EU/EEA-wide project of ECHA’s Enforcement Forum, inspectors found hundreds of consumer products with illegal amounts of restricted chemicals. Every fifth toy inspected contained high levels of restricted phthalates.
Helsinki, 13 February 2018 – The project report shows a relatively high number of products on the European market containing chemicals that are restricted under REACH. Inspectors in 27 European countries checked 1 009 mixtures, 4 599 articles and 17 substances. Overall, out of 5 625 targeted product checks, 18 % did not comply with the restrictions.
The most frequent breaches were: phthalates in toys (20 % of inspected toys contained Bis(2-ethylhexyl) (DEHP), Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) or Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) at levels above those permitted), cadmium in brazing fillers (14 %) and asbestos fibres in products (14 %). The products containing asbestos – for example, catalytic heaters, thermos flasks, brake pads – were mostly second-hand and probably produced before the restrictions prohibiting the sale of products containing asbestos came into force.
Inspectors also found high concentrations of chromium VI in leather articles (13 % of the tested products) and cadmium in jewellery (12 %).
Overall, most of the breaches were found with products, which had origins that could not be identified (39 % of such products did not comply), followed by products imported from China (17 %).
The report highlights the companies’ responsibility to get information on the chemical composition of their products from their suppliers. This may also include proactively testing the products and making agreements between suppliers so that the chemical composition complies with the chemicals legislation. The enforcement authorities will continue enforcing REACH restrictions by analysing further products on the market.
This article was authored and published by ECHA. Find the original article from here.
Inspectors find phthalates in toys and asbestos in second-hand products
In an EU/EEA-wide project of ECHA’s Enforcement Forum, inspectors found hundreds of consumer products with illegal amounts of restricted chemicals. Every fifth toy inspected contained high levels of restricted phthalates.
Helsinki, 13 February 2018 – The project report shows a relatively high number of products on the European market containing chemicals that are restricted under REACH. Inspectors in 27 European countries checked 1 009 mixtures, 4 599 articles and 17 substances. Overall, out of 5 625 targeted product checks, 18 % did not comply with the restrictions.
The most frequent breaches were: phthalates in toys (20 % of inspected toys contained Bis(2-ethylhexyl) (DEHP), Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) or Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) at levels above those permitted), cadmium in brazing fillers (14 %) and asbestos fibres in products (14 %). The products containing asbestos – for example, catalytic heaters, thermos flasks, brake pads – were mostly second-hand and probably produced before the restrictions prohibiting the sale of products containing asbestos came into force.
Inspectors also found high concentrations of chromium VI in leather articles (13 % of the tested products) and cadmium in jewellery (12 %).
Overall, most of the breaches were found with products, which had origins that could not be identified (39 % of such products did not comply), followed by products imported from China (17 %).
The report highlights the companies’ responsibility to get information on the chemical composition of their products from their suppliers. This may also include proactively testing the products and making agreements between suppliers so that the chemical composition complies with the chemicals legislation. The enforcement authorities will continue enforcing REACH restrictions by analysing further products on the market.
This article was authored and published by ECHA. Find the original article from here.