Safer Chemicals Podcast

In this episode we talk about one of the core tools for chemical safety in the workplace: safety data sheets. They contain information on how to safely handle, store, and dispose of chemicals. It is the responsibility of the supplier to provide safety data sheet to their customer when selling hazardous chemicals or mixtures.  In 2021, new requirements for safety data sheets were introduced under the REACH Regulation, and this year, ECHA’s Enforcement Forum carried out an EU-wide project to check if companies are following these updated rules.  The inspectors found out that 35 % of the checked safety data sheets were non-compliant. Compliance has improved from previous projects but further efforts are needed to better protect workers and professional users from risks of hazardous chemicals. Our guests are Abdulqadir Mohamad Suleiman, the Norwegian alternate member of ECHA’s Enforcement Forum and the Chair of the working group managing this enforcement project and Maciej Baranski, leading the Harmonised Enforcement Team at ECHA, which contributed to the project.**************Subscribe to our YouTube channelSubscribe to our Safer Chemicals PodcastSubscribe to our newsFollow us on:TwitterFacebookLinkedInVisit our website Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, we dive into ECHA’s new initiatives in advancing non-animal testing methods through the New Approach Methodologies Framework Contract.Our guests, Sylvia Escher from the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, and Tomasz Sobanski from ECHA’s Alternative Methods Team, discuss research projects aimed at transforming how chemicals are assessed for safety.Useful linksECHA to investigate new test method potentially replacing toxicity testing with fish - ECHA news 13 November 2024Animal testing under the REACH Regulation**************Subscribe to our YouTube channelSubscribe to our Safer Chemicals PodcastSubscribe to our newsFollow us on:TwitterFacebookLinkedInVisit our website Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, Adam Elwan is joined by Roberto Scazzola, Chair of the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC), and María Ottati, Chair of the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC). They talk about the September committee meetings, discussing the scientific evaluation of the proposal to restrict PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) across multiple industries, including petroleum, mining, textiles, and food packaging.  Additionally, they address the proposal to classify talc as a carcinogenic substance and companies' applications to use chromium VI in the aviation and defense sectors.Useful linksGive us feedbackSeptember RAC and SEAC meeting highlights - ECHA news, 26 September 2024RAC meeting agenda and minutesSEAC meeting agenda and minutesREACH restriction processHarmonised classification and labellingRisk Assessment CommitteeSocio-Economic Analysis Committee**************Subscribe to our YouTube channelSubscribe to our Safer Chemicals PodcastSubscribe to our newsFollow us on:TwitterFacebookLinkedInVisit our website Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, we explore the vital work carried out by the European Chemicals Agency’s Member State Committee. Host Päivi Jokiniemi is joined by Katinka van der Jagt, Chair of the Member State Committee, alongside two of the committee's national members, Katarzyna Malkiewicz from the Swedish Chemicals Agency KEMI, and Agnieszka Dudra from the Polish Bureau for Chemical Substances.The European Union, a partnership of 27 countries, is committed to building a safer and healthier future. ECHA’s Member State Committee exemplifies this commitment by bringing together representatives from all EU member states to reach consensus on key chemical safety decisions. Throughout the episode, our guests talk about the unique aspects of the Member State Committee, discussing its tasks, responsibilities, and the collaborative nature of its decision-making process. They highlight the importance of science-based decisions, transparency, and the committee’s role in promoting the substitution and minimisation of harmful substances.Key topics:Committee voting procedure and its impact on committee collaborationGeneration of experimental data for industrial chemicals and its significance in identifying hazardous substancesIdentification of substances of very high concern, particularly those with endocrine-disrupting propertiesNational perspectives on chemical safety priorities and how they influence committee decisionsImportance of science and legal frameworks in resolving divergences and achieving consensusFuture challenges, including emerging chemical concerns like nanomaterials, neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and the development of non-animal testing methodsUseful linksGive us feedbackMember State Committee - who we areMember State Committee - meeting agendas and minutes**************Subscribe to our YouTube channelSubscribe to our Safer Chemicals PodcastSubscribe to our newsFollow us on:TwitterFacebookLinkedInVisit our website Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.