Ghana's chemicals bill; European Commission looks to PMTs; HP's safer chemicals progress

07/13/20 • 22 min

In this latest episode of the Chemical Watch Podcast, global managing editor, Kate Lowe, is joined by emerging markets reporter Ginger Hervey, science editor, Andrew Turley and business editor, Leigh Stringer.

First, we hear about plans in Ghana to consult this autumn on a draft comprehensive chemicals bill that would require companies to register all industrial and consumer chemicals in the country, and would give the agency authority to ban chemicals that pose "unnecessary harm".

Secondly, we take a look at European Commission plans to introduce new categories for substances of very high concern under REACH, for chemicals which are persistent, mobile and toxic or very persistent and very mobile - also known as PMTs and vPvMs.

And finally, we discuss the significance of the announcement from technology giant HP Inc that 98.5% of the total weight of all of its products consist of substances considered by the NGO-led Chemical Footprint Project to be safer alternatives to chemicals of high concern.

Previous Episode

'Essential' and 'non-essential' uses for PFASs; Brexit; New reporting rule planned by the US EPA

In this latest episode of the Chemical Watch Podcast, Kate Lowe is joined by science editor Andrew Turley, editorial director Geraint Roberts and North America managing editor Terry Hyland.

First we hear about an international group of scientists who are making the argument for managing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) as a class, and who say a more precise set of criteria is needed to categorise ‘essential’ and ‘non-essential’ uses – a distinction vital to draft European Commission proposals to phase out all but 'essential' uses of PFASs across a wide range of legislation.

Secondly, we catch up with the post-Brexit concerns of the chemicals industry in the UK where representatives continue to warn that the UK REACH regime’s attempts to create a parallel database will both weaken UK manufacturing and potentially cut the number of chemicals on the market.

And finally, we take a look at the implications of the US EPA’s plans to propose a rule in November that would allow it to obtain information about potential hazards and exposure pathways related to certain chemicals on the TSCA work plan – a list of 90 chemicals the agency put together in 2014 based on their potential for high hazard and exposure.

Next Episode

EU chemicals strategy latest; TSCA Snur worries; CLP hazard class proposal

In this latest episode of the Chemical Watch Podcast, global managing editor, Kate Lowe, is joined by editorial director Geraint Roberts, North America managing editor Terry Hyland and science editor Andrew Turley.

First, we hear more about a leaked European Commission internal document which shows early health and environmental protection commitments for an ambitious new EU chemicals strategy for sustainability, are likely to be significantly amended.

Secondly, we take a look at the concerns of trade groups representing the semiconductor industry, automotive manufacturers, retailers and moreover the difficulties they may face meeting notification requirements in the US EPA’s recent TSCA significant new use rule covering certain long-chain per- and poly-fluoro-alkyl substances (PFASs).

And finally, we discuss the significance of endocrine disruptors – and a European Commission ‘preliminary view’ that the creation of new hazard classes is the best way to include endocrine disruptors (EDs) in the CLP Regulation which covers the classification and labelling of substances and mixtures.