On the basis of the Biocidal Products Regulation, ECHA has launched a consultation on boric acid (EC 233-139-2, CAS No 10043-35-3) and disodium tetraborate pentahydrate (EC 215-540-4, CAS No 12179-04-3) as new potential candidates for substitution. The deadline for comments is 27 October 2020.

Boric acid acts as a fungicide and insecticide and is used by industrial, professional and non-professional users as a preventive and curative wood preservative for wood and construction timber in

On 1 September, two proposals to identify new Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) were submitted to ECHA:

• Bis(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl)ether (CAS number 143-24-8)
• Dioctyltin dilaurate, stannane, dioctyl-, bis(coco acyloxy) derivs., and any other stannane, dioctyl-, bis(fatty acyloxy) derivs. wherein C12 is the predominant carbon number of the fatty acyloxy moiety.

Both substances are suspected to be toxic to reproduction.

Bis(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl) ether is used as a

From January 2021, you will be required to notify ECHA (= European Chemicals Agency) if your products contain Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) in a concentration of more than 0.1 percent by mass and are produced, sold or imported on the EU market.

You believe this doesn't concern you? You could be mistaken, though, because many products contain:

• Lead, for example in copper or aluminium alloys (fasteners, housings, cable conduits, etc.),
• Plasticizers (phthalates), such as DEHP

According to the latest IMDS newsletter, the deactivation of the Rec019 data sheets (originally 1 July 2020) will be postponed. It is expected to be implemented with Release 13.0, which is scheduled for March 10, 2021. The reasons given are the effects of the COVID 19 pandemic and the SCIP reporting requirements for the automotive and electronics industries.

The IMDS Steering Committee, representatives of the ZVEI and the supplier associations (AIAG, CLEPA and JAPIA) continuously discuss how