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Contents NOV. 20, 2020 (click on page numbers for links) CONTACT US REGULATORY UPDATE subscribers@chemwatch. ASIA PACIFIC net Chemical Management changes coming in 2021 .................................................4 tel +61 3 9572 4700 Improving chemical assessment for a safer environment ..................................5 fax +61 3 9572 4777 Six more chemicals prioritised for reassessment ...................................................6 1227 Glen Huntly Rd AMERICA Glen Huntly 1,4 Dioxane: Another forever chemical plagues drinking-water utilities .....7 Victoria 3163 Australia New Jersey signs strongest plastic and paper bag ban in US ...........................8 Wisconsin officials offer water quality standards for PFAS .................................9 Biden’s EPA expected to pass limits on some “Forever Chemicals” .................9 EUROPE Advice for GB-based companies intending to export chemicals listed in the PIC Regulation (EU 649/2012) in the period immediately after the end of the Transition Period ............................................11 EC requests scientific opinion on UV-Filter HAA229 (Nano) ............................13 * While Chemwatch INTERNATIONAL has taken all efforts to Kazakhstan to establish interagency coordination body for safe ensure the accuracy chemicals management ...............................................................................................14 of information in this publication, it REACH UPDATE is not intended to REACH change planned to extend chemical safety reports to low be comprehensive tonnage CMRs ..................................................................................................................15 or to render advice. Inspectors to check duty to notify mixtures for poison centres .....................15 Websites rendered are JANET’S CORNER subject to change. Probiotics vs antibiotics ................................................................................................17 HAZARD ALERT Zinc Oxide ..........................................................................................................................18 Copyright Chemwatch 2020 © 1 Contents NOV. 20, 2020 Regulatory Update NOV. 20, 2020 GOSSIP ASIA PACIFIC Chemicals in your living room cause diabetes .....................................................23 Denmark to cull all farmed mink to stop coronavirus outbreaks ..................25 Chemical Management changes coming in 2021 Penicillin allergies may be linked to one immune system gene ....................26 2020-11-05 Machine-designed natural product syntheses pass ‘Turing test’ for A revamped regime for classifying hazardous substances takes effect in chemistry ............................................................................................................................28 late April 2021, in the interests of safety for all New Zealanders. Newly discovered reef is taller than a skyscraper ................................................30 The changes will bring our chemical management into line with the rest of Rare squid with ‘elbow tentacles baffles scientists in spooky new footage 30 the world, support international trade, and facilitate improved regulatory Injection of long-acting drug prevents HIV in women ......................................32 compliance. STEVE may even be less like typical auroras than scientists thought ..........33 We are adopting the seventh revised edition of the Globally Harmonised Rare wolf spider presumed extinct turns up on British military base ..........35 System (GHS 7), which will implement hazard classifications tailored for Protecting the brain from infection may start with a gut reaction ...............36 New Zealand. These capture physical hazards such as flammability, human health hazards such as skin irritation, and environmental hazards such as how toxic a chemical is in water. CURIOSITIES Botched restoration leaves Spanish statue looking like a confused We have led this three-year project, working with the European potato head .......................................................................................................................39 Chemicals Agency and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and other domestic regulators. The new classifica- A butterfly’s brilliant blue wings lead to less toxic paint ..................................40 tion system and Why some environmentalists are pushing for an end to plastic “These changes are for the benefit of all New Zealanders. Chemicals touch database are both on tampon applicators ........................................................................................................42 every area of our lives, and the world of chemical management is dynamic A blue-green glow adds to platypuses’ long list of bizarre features .............46 and fast-moving, so it’s important we stay on top of best practice,” says track to take effect the EPA’s General Manager of Compliance, Monitoring, and Enforcement, What happens when psychedelics make you see God .....................................48 on 30 April 2021. Gayle Holmes. Study finds psychedelic DMT may be a powerful nootropic ...........................56 Is NZ’s vanishing nature worsening kids’ asthma rates? ....................................57 More than 9,000 hazardous substances are individually approved for use in New Zealand. Their details will be captured in our new database, which A new portable device can reveal a chili pepper’s heat ....................................59 has been configured for New Zealand’s unique requirements. What are cytokines? .......................................................................................................60 The 15-minute city—no cars required—is urban planning’s new utopia ..64 The new classification system and database are both on track to take effect on 30 April 2021. TECHNICAL NOTES “Now is a good time for importers and manufacturers to start getting (Note: Open your Web Browser and click on Heading to link to section) ...73 familiar with the changes required of them. Although there is a transition period through to 2025 for many requirements, we strongly encourage CHEMICAL EFFECTS ........................................................................................................73 industry to comply with the various changes sooner rather than later,” says ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH ......................................................................................73 Gayle Holmes. OCCUPATIONAL................................................................................................................73 As a starting point, importers and manufacturers should be looking PHARAMACEUTICAL/TOXICOLOGY ..........................................................................73 carefully to get their hazard classification, labelling, and safety data sheets to comply with the new classification system. Copyright Chemwatch 2020 © 2 Copyright Chemwatch 2020 © 3 Regulatory Update NOV. 20, 2020 Regulatory Update NOV. 20, 2020 Consumers should start to see the GHS 7 pictograms appearing on The changes only relate to hazardous substances – there are no changes product labels, as New Zealand’s chemical labelling aligns with the rest of to the new organisms provisions of the HSNO Act. the world. The next steps will involve MfE drafting amendments to the HSNO Act, EPA New Zealand, 5 November 2020 and making changes to the relevant regulations, to be considered by Parliament. https://www.epa.govt.nz/news-and-alerts/latest-news/chemical- management-changes-coming-in-2021/ Read the Cabinet paper on proposed amendments to the HSNO Act 1996 - Ministry for the Environment website (PDF, 742KB) Improving chemical assessment for a safer environment EPA New Zealand, 12 November 2020 2020-11-12 Changes are being made to the Hazardous Substances and New https://www.epa.govt.nz/news-and-alerts/latest-news/improving- Organisms Act 1996 (HSNO) that will enable us to more quickly assess and chemical-assessment-for-a-safer-environment/ reassess chemicals for use in New Zealand. Six more chemicals prioritised for reassessment There are over 9,000 substances with individual approvals, and many 2020-11-04 thousands of substances with approvals under group standards. Insecticides used in ant bait, and chemicals found in timber treatment The Priority Chemicals “If approvals are delayed, beneficial chemicals, including safer alternatives There are over 9,000 substances, are among the additions to our priority list for reassessment. List contains 43 to existing ones, take longer to be in use,” says the Ministry for the substances with substances that we Environment’s Director of Waste and Resource Efficiency – Regulatory and We regulate hazardous chemicals under the Hazardous Substances and Policy, Glenn Wigley. individual approvals, New Organisms (HSNO) Act. This includes making decisions on whether believe are most in and many thousands to approve the use of new hazardous substances in New Zealand, and need of review in “Delaying reassessments means safety and environmental controls might reassessing approvals of those already in use. not be up to date and fit for purpose.” of substances with New Zealand, drawn approvals under The Priority Chemicals List contains 43 substances that we believe are from a long-list of The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) is responsible for developing the most in need of review in New Zealand, drawn from a long-list of 1,200 policy behind the changes. group standards.