Regulatory Review: March–April
Trudy Watson-Leung, SETAC
The rate at which laws, regulations and administrative acts are created and improved all over the world is overwhelming. It can be difficult to keep on top of proposed or approved legal changes that may have a significant impact on how and why you do your science. The Regulatory Review in the SETAC Globe is designed to give a snapshot of topical regulatory information and activities that impact the SETAC scientific community.
As of 22 March, ECHA is seeking input on proposed EU-wide PFAS restriction on the use of PFASs in firefighting foams by 25 September. An online information session was held 5 April. Submit information on firefighting foams to ECHA’s Socio-Economic Analysis Committee by 15 May.
ECHA held a consultation on bis(4-chlorophenyl) sulphone and diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide as proposed substances of very high concern.
Canada deemed ether groups and caprolactam to be non-toxic under CEPA.
The latest TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory is now available on the USEPA’s website.
As of 10 April, HFO-1336mzz(E) is exempt from the USEPA’s regulatory definition of volatile organic compounds.
Shanghai added microplastics and BPA as key new pollutants with strict control measures as of 1 March.
In March, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment held a comment period for the draft declaration on specific control policies for five persistent organic pollutants (HCBD, PCP, PCNs, DecaBDE and SCCPs), effective 6 June.
The OECD Inclusive Forum on Carbon Mitigated Approaches (IFCMA) met to discuss how to optimize the impact of diverse and country-specific climate policies to reduce global emissions.
The OECD held a Green Talks LIVE on the Gender-Environment Nexus: The integration of a gender lens to environmental data collection and policy-making.
The OECD and EC issued a report outlining the challenges with integration of water economics into the framework of water management in Europe and opportunities for improvement.
The UN Water Conference Roundtable on Financing Water met to discuss how finance can be channeled where it creates most value in line with restoring the hydrological cycle and a commitment to water equity.
A new OECD Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy (RE-CIRCLE) project environment working paper on “Monitoring Trade in Plastic Waste and Scrap” was released, discussing the global trade of plastic waste and scrap in 2021–2022.
The National Academies of Science released workshop proceedings on “The Role of Plant Agricultural Practices on Development of Antimicrobial Resistant Fungi Affecting Human Health.”
The 60-day comment periods for ECCC’s draft screening and risk management cope for furfuryl alcohol and tetrahydrofuran outdoor air exposure and human health risk characterization, and the proposal to add chlorocresol to schedule 1, close 17 May and 31May, respectively. The final screening assessment for triclocarban was published. A compilation of non-confidential BPA and BPA structural analogues and functional alternatives was published.
Please let us know if you become aware of anything that should be in next month’s Regulatory Review.
Author’s contact: [email protected]
