Non-food legislation – November 2021

Hazardous substances – EU rules and regulations
Germany has launched a second call for evidence to support the preparation of a REACH restriction of BPA and further bisphenols that are of similar concern for the environment. The deadline for comments is 22 December 2021.
The EC has adopted a proposal to protect human health and the environment from Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in waste. The proposal amends Annexes IV and V to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on POPs, tightening the limits for these chemicals in waste. Questions and Answers on POPs can be found here.
ECHA has announced a new release of the IUCLID software that includes an updated poison centre notification (PCN) format that allows companies to make group submissions for their mixtures. The latest version of IUCLID also enables downstream users to report their nanoform uses that are outside their supplier’s conditions of use, as communicated in the safety data sheet. Annex I to the updated manual How to prepare a downstream user report (1.99 MB) contains information on how to do it.
A new ECHA report (2.71 MB) shows that REACH authorisation reduces the use of substances of very high concern (SVHCs) in the EU.
ECHA has published a new guide (399 kB) on classifying and labelling titanium dioxide (TiO₂).

Phasing out PFAS in the US
On 18 October 2021, the EPA announced the PFAS Strategic Roadmap. The actions described in the roadmap each represent important and meaningful steps to safeguard communities from PFAS contamination. A week later, the EPA released a final human health toxicity assessment for GenX chemicals, which are part of the PFAS group.
In November 2021, the Washington government announced its new PFAS Chemical Action Plan (8.65 MB).

US: Implementing DSCSA product serialisation requirements
A survey (summary, 732 kB) by the HDA Research Foundation shows that the pharmaceutical supply chain’s progress on implementing product serialisation requirements by 27 November 2023 to comply with the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) has slowed. The results of the survey track with a recent EPCIS Benchmarking Survey. The latter survey (550 kB), released in September, found that few trading partners are prepared to share DSCSA-related data via GS1’s Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS).

Microplastics induce reproductive toxicity in pregnant mice
FPF reports that researchers from the Institute of Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases have found that microplastics induce reproductive toxicity in pregnant mice. An article (4.66 MB) about the research is published in Reproductive Toxicity.

Cannabis labelling
A recent study by Dalhousie University and WUR shows that cannabis labelling is often wrong and misleading. An article (4.03 MB) about the research is published in Nature Plants.
University of Waterloo research has found that prominent health warnings and less attractive packaging of cannabis can reduce its appeal among young people. An article (5.11 MB) about the research is published in Preventive Medicine.
 

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