5 June, 2018, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) releases a public consultation, preparing to amend the REACH authorization list on the uses of four phthalates. They are: bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP, CAS 117-81-7), dibutyl phthalate (DBP, CAS 84-74-2), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP, CAS 85-68-7), and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP, CAS 84-69-5). The four phthalates had earlier been identified as SVHCs and subsequently added to the authorization list in 2011 and 2012 due to their classification as toxic for reproduction.they were identified in 2017 as substances of very high concern. Comments can be submitted until August 6, 2018. ...

6 June 2018, the Official Journal of EU issues the (EU) 2018/831, amending Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. The new regulation adds two substances, and also amends the use of two.Directive (EU) 2018/831 shall come into force on 26 June 2018.Prior to the effective date, (EU) 10/2011 compliant plastic materials and products could still be put on the market until February 9th 2019 until they were sold out. ...

25 May 2018, California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) issued a notice. TRIM®VX is officially listed as a carcinogen under Prop 65 list. The listing of TRIM®VX is based on formal identification by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), an authoritative body, that the chemical causes cancer. As early as 26 January, 2018, OEHHA has issued a request for advice on listing the substance TRIM®VX under Prop 65.The California law requires manufacturers and retailers to warn workers and consumers exposed to chemicals on the list. ...

18 May 2018, the Official Journal of European Union releases seven Directives （EU）2018/736~（EU）2018/742, amending the exemption for lead content in the Annex III of EU RoHS Regulation. Member States shall adopt and publish the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this directive by 30 June 2019 at the latest, and they shall apply those provisions from 1 July 2019. This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. ...

17 May, 2018, the Official Journal of European Union publishes directive （EU）2018/725, amending the limit of Chromium VI in point 13 of part III of Annex II to Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC. According to (EU) 2018/725, the point 13 of part III of Annex II to Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC is amended as follows.Member States shall adopt and publish the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive at 17 November, 2019 at the latest. All the toy products should meet the new limitation requirements from 18 November, 2019. ...

2 May, 2018, Canada Gazette (Part II) release the new Children's Jewellery Regulations Children's Jewellery Regulations SOR/2018-82, which will come into force on 2 November, 2018, while the current Children's Jewelry Regulation SOR /2016-168 will be repealed. The main amendments of the new regulation SOR/2018-82 are as follows: 1. The Lead content of children's jewellery, when tested using good laboratory practices, must not be more than 90 mg/kg of lead. ...

14 May, 2018, Standardization Administration of China issues a new national mandatory standard for plastic runways GB 36246-2018 Sports areas with synthetic surfaces for primary and middle schools, which will come into force on 1 November, 2018. This new standard will replace the original GB/T 19851.11-2005 “Sports Equipment and Venues for Elementary and Middle School - Part 11: Sports Areas with Synthetic Surfaces”. ...

4 May, 2018, the Official Journal of European Union releases Directive 2018/675, amending the entries of CMRs in Annex XVII of REACH Regulation. This regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the OJ. It shall apply from 1 December 2018 except that, to the extent that paragraph 2 of the Annex applies to the substance ‘formaldehyde … %’, that paragraph shall apply from the date of entry into force. ...

26 April, 2018, EU Member States approved the amending of Annex XVII of REACH, restricting of 33 carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic (CMR) substances in clothing, textiles and footwear. The new law will apply 24 months after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. The substances include metals and their compounds and phthalates,etc.Amendment of Annex XVII restricts the concentration limit of 33 substances. ...

25 April, 2018, the Official Journal of the European Union released Directive (EC) No 2018/636, identified dicyclohexyl phthalate as a substance of very high concern. ECHA plan to add DCHP into list of SVHC. According to the Article 57(c) of REACH Regulation, dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP) has reproduction toxicity of category 1B under Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, and it has endocrine disrupting properties with probable serious effects to human health.The substance shall be included in the candidate list. ...