An expert panel of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that they cannot exclude genotoxicity concerns after consumption of titanium dioxide particles.

Titanium dioxide is used as food colour (E171) to make food more visually appealing, to give colour or to restore the original appearance of food. It is frequently used in bakery wares, soups, broths, sauces, salads, savoury based sandwich spreads and processed nuts, but is also present in cosmetics, paints, and medicines.

The Guidance on Poison Centres Notifications is an orientation document on the European harmonised information relating to emergency health response – Annex VIII to CLP, that aims to help users subject to regulation to comply with their obligations.

The first version was developed with the support of a specialized working group made up of industry experts, bodies designated by the Member States and European toxicology institutes. Since its first version in February 2019, the document has been updated in consultation with ECHA partners.

A few weeks ago, its fourth version was published, which addresses problems and solutions identified by certain industrial sectors in the harmonized notification process. Next, we explain the main novelties by sections.

On April 20 it was published in the Official Journal of the European Union, the COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2021/643 of 3 February 2021, which is equivalent to the 16th adaptation to technical and scientific progress, by modifying part 1 of Annex VI of the CLP Regulation (CE) on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures.

In its initial remarks, the Commission explains that the amendment has been carried out at the request of some Member States and stakeholders, which have requested that a number of the notes set out in subsection 1.1.3 of Part 1 of Annex VI to CLP be amended alluding to the fact that they were vague and generated a degree of uncertainty that did not allow the correct interpretation of legal obligations.

Annex VIII harmonized poison centre notifications (PCN) was first implemented from January 1, 2021, for consumer and professional users. Importers, downstream users and distributors placing hazardous mixtures on the European markets must notify the ingredients in those mixtures classified as hazardous for physical or health effects.

This requirement is not new, it has existed for years, but before Annex VIII, each Member State managed its own system and established their own requirements, which varied on the type of information provided, the mechanism of notification, the language or the formats. Annex VIII introduced a new harmonized format for notifications.

Adopting the seventh revised edition of the GHS would provide increased worker health and safety benefits and worker protections and to comply with the Canada – United States Regulatory Cooperation Council Joint Forward Plan

The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) is Canada’s national hazard communication standard with regard to workplace hazardous products. The key elements of the system are: hazard classification, cautionary labelling of containers, the provision of safety data sheets, and worker education and training programs. It requires suppliers of hazardous products intended for use, handling or storage in Canadian workplaces to classify and provide hazard information through labels and safety data sheets.

The roadmap, set up to identify and include all relevant Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) in the Candidate List by 2020, has just published an analysis of its main achievements and extended aims

In 2013 the European Chemicals Agency ECHA joined forces with Members State authorities and the European Commission to create the SVHC Roadmap 2020. Its objective? To identify substances of very high concern (SVHCs) and put measures in place to manage their risks..