Directive Decoder

The MCS (Member State Committee) has agreed to add 8 Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) to the REACH Candidate List for possible future authorisation.

• chromium trioxide
• acids generated from chromium trioxide and their oligomers 
• cobalt(II)sulphate
• cobalt(II)dinitrate
• cobalt(II)carbonate
• cobalt(II)diacetate
• 2-methoxyethanol
• 2-ethoxyethanol 

Three substances (see below), nominated by Germany, were excluded from the original proposal on the grounds that there was not sufficient scientific evidence available to suggest they were PBTs (persistent, bioaccumulative or toxic).

A stakeholder consultation has been launched, to run until February, on two RoHS exemption requests.

They cover cadmium used as a pigment for use in vitreous enamel and a restriction on a previous exemption (1) to read non-liquid mercury only.

Directive Decoder

The RoHS recast looks to have brought to an end, and provide clarity on, the hotly debated subject of semiconductor development kits and evaluation boards and their RoHS status.

The European Chemicals Agency has published an updated Candidate List featuring 8 new Substances of Very High Concern for Authorisation.

For details follow the link below:

REACH SVHCs

Directive Decoder

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced a public consultation, running until the end of January around the proposed rule implementing annual reporting requirements regarding conflict minerals in manufactured products.

These are required under Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

At the Environmental Council meeting on 20 December the Council did not approve the RoHS recast text voted through by the European Parliament on 24 November due to translation problems.