Learn About The Outcomes Of March RAC & SEAC Meetings

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The Committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) play an important role in the European Union to adhere to the regulations in the usage of chemicals.These committees major purpose is to assess the comments received by the companies and industrial sectors and authorize them to prevent chemical usage affecting the environment and human beings. 

 

Recently, these committees have made significant changes in the authorizing and assessing the concerns with the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) especially the Chromium (VI) substances. Their deliberations have resulted in the agreement on over 20 opinions, each meticulously crafted to evaluate the proposed utilization of chromium (VI) across various industrial sectors.

 

Chromium (VI) substances are extensively used in aerospace and defense sector applications, underscoring the importance of risk assessment protocols in high-stakes industries. These substances, while offering valuable properties for specific applications, also present inherent risks that demand evaluation and mitigation strategies. Hence, this blog explores the highlights on the outcomes of March RAC & SEAC meetings on the PFAS substances.

Background Of RAC & SEAC Meetings:

By September 2023, ECHA had received over 5,600 comments from more than 4,400 organizations, individuals, and companies. These comments underwent assessments by ECHA’s scientific committees, Risk Assessment (RAC) and Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) who provide evidence-based decisions for the authorization of the proposal.

 

Alos, the five nations responsible for the initial proposal will likewise analyze the consultation feedback and might adjust their initial proposal accordingly. RAC and SEAC evaluated the proposed restriction and provided the necessary information from the consultation with the five nations.

 

After reviewing feedback obtained during the consultation, ECHA outlined the subsequent actions regarding the proposal to restrict PFAS within REACH, the European Union’s chemicals regulation.

 

Simultaneously, the five national authorities responsible for drafting the proposal are revising their original report to incorporate the consultation responses. The committees will evaluate this revised report, which will form the basis of their assessments.

 

The sectors and components to be addressed in the upcoming March 2024 committee sessions include:

 

  • Consumer blends, beauty products, and ski wax;
  • Risks associated with PFAS (to be discussed solely by RAC); and
  • Overall strategy (to be deliberated exclusively by SEAC).

Highlights On The Outcome Of RAC & SEAC Meetings:

At the meeting held on  21 March 2024, RAC supported 24 draft opinions and SEAC agreed 25 draft opinions concerning applications for authorization and review reports for chromium (VI) substances which are used mainly in the aerospace and defense sector. These preliminary opinions will be forwarded to the applicants for feedback and will be adopted later this year. Furthermore, both RAC and SEAC summed on two conclusive opinions about applications for authorization of using Chromium Trioxide in applications.

 

In discussions regarding the proposition to limit per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), RAC and SEAC examined the dangers linked with PFAS, alongside the likely outcomes of the proposition on ski waxes, cosmetics, and other consumer blends. RAC deliberated on the riskness of PFAS, encompassing the estimation of possibly released quantities, while SEAC contemplated the broad approach for appraising the various socio-economic aspects of the proposition. Furthermore, an outline of the subjects for discussion in the June and September sessions was provided to the committees.

 

RAC finalized two European Commission requests for revisiting its prior harmonized classification and labeling assessments. For three lithium salts, RAC reaffirmed its initial opinion as a group, suggesting their categorization for reproductive toxicity and impacts on or through lactation. Regarding methyl methacrylate (MMA), RAC advised, classifying it as a respiratory sensitizer causing allergy, asthma symptoms, or respiratory issues upon inhalation.

Additional Results From The March Gatherings:

 

  • SEAC embraced its revised method for suggesting evaluation durations for authorization requests. This report will be updated on ECHA’s online platform.

 

  • RAC endorsed 19 comments on standardized categorization and labeling.

 

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