Chemical Watch News and Insight Podcast

This week’s Podcast Short highlights stories covering TSCA PFAS reporting in the US, regulatory simplification in the EU, Canada's supreme court looking at a toxic listing for plastic items and more.In the US, the PFAS reporting window is due to start by the end of January, even as the EPA works to finalise a revision to narrow the scope of businesses that need to submit information under the regulation. That could leave thousands of companies in a position to make compliance decisions before knowing whether they might ultimately be exempt from the broad TSCA reporting rule.Meanwhile, in the EU, European Commission officials say regulatory simplification is necessary to make the trade bloc more competitive, while the European Parliament votes to approve the Chemicals Omnibus package to simplify rules covering cosmetics and the classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals.Other stories highlighted this week include:What companies doing business in Maine can learn from how regulators have thus far handled requests for exemptions from the state's law restricting PFAS in products;The Supreme Court of Canada agrees to hear an appeal of the government's order listing plastic manufactured items as 'toxic' under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA); andJapan considers adding controls for food contact materials (FCMs) made from rubber and paper.Tune in to hear more about our top stories from the last week and then visit Chemical Watch News & Insight to catch all the latest chemicals management news from around the globe. Have a podcast idea or a comment to share? Let us know by emailing the editor at [email protected].

This week’s Podcast Short highlights stories from Europe, North America, and the business sector.In Europe, some UK industry groups have given up hope that Defra will make changes to the UK REACH registration model and are instead taking their concerns over costs directly to the prime minister and Treasury Ministry.Meanwhile, in the US, the Fifth Circuit’s September ruling that nullified the EPA’s TSCA risk management rule for methylene chloride raises interesting questions about what happens when regulatory science collides with legal interpretation.Other stories highlighted this week include:A look at the contentious debate over defining “consumer use” under the EU’s forthcoming PFAS restriction;Canada sets out plans for developing regulations to define criteria for carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic (CMR) substances; andVF Corporation discusses why it is scrapping its goal to phase out ‘unwanted’ chemicals.Tune in to hear more about our top stories from the last week and then visit Chemical Watch News & Insight to catch all the latest chemicals management news from around the globe. Have a podcast idea or a comment to share? Let us know by emailing the editor at [email protected].

This week’s Podcast Short highlights new laws in California and lots of preliminary registrations under Turkey’s REACH-like chemicals regime.In California, Governor Gavin Newsom signed five chemicals-related bills into law, including measures that add requirements for Proposition 65 settlements and actions to track the use of PFAS-containing pesticides in the state.Meanwhile, in Turkey, the government received some 40,000 provisional registrations from companies under the KKDIK, the country’s chemicals management law.Other top stories discussed this week include: An in-depth look at what happens next with New Mexico’s now paused PFAS labelling scheme; China seeks proposals for for its 2027 cosmetics standards work programme; The UK rejects an authorisation request on the use of chromium trioxide in surface treatment; and Industry says EU PFAS restriction could disrupt continent’s fluoropolymer supply. Tune in to hear more about our top stories from the last week and then visit Chemical Watch News & Insight to catch all the latest chemicals management news from around the globe.Have a podcast idea or a comment to share? Let us know by emailing the editor at [email protected].

This week’s Podcast Short highlights two stories that look at a pair of big rulings from US federal courts, as well as other developments from the EU and China. The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently vacated the EPA’s TSCA risk management rule for methylene chloride, addressing how the agency must evaluate and regulate existing chemicals under TSCA. In a separate action, a federal district court blocked New Mexico from enforcing its upcoming PFAS labelling mandate while the case proceeds. The preliminary injunction gives the industry groups an early victory in their challenge to one of the country’s most sweeping state-level PFAS labelling schemes. Other top stories discussed include: the European Parliament approves legislation clarifying when EU member states can exempt defence-related activites from key chemicals laws; an analysis of China becoming increasingly active in GHS development; and modest demand for fast-track new chemical reviews under an EPA programme intended to speed reviews substances intended for data center projects. Tune in to hear about our top stories from the last week, and then visit Chemical Watch News & Insight to catch all the latest chemicals management news from around the globe. Have a podcast idea or a comment to share? Let us know by emailing the editor at [email protected].

This week’s Podcast Short looks at a provision in the recent US stopgap spending bill and the overlap of chemicals in Canada’s latest data call-in for chemicals.Topping the headlines this week is story from North America managing editor Kelly Franklin, who writes about Congress extending the EPA’s TSCA fee authority as part of the continuing resolution to keep the government funded into December, and what that extension means for possible amendments to the chemicals law.In Canada, regulators mandate that companies provide information on 200 chemicals, many of which are under regulatory scrutiny in other jurisdictions like the US and EU.Other top stories discussed include: A federal court in Oregon upholds the state’s extended producer responsibility law; California lawmakers approve several chemicals-related bills, covering PFAS in pesticides, bisphenols in receipt paper and more; Industry groups urge the European Commission to reconsider plans to add chemicals like BPA and lilial to the EU Prior Informed Consent Regulation; and The head of hazardous substances at New Zealand’s Environmental Protection Authority talks about how the agency plans to improve new chemical reviews.Tune in to hear about our top stories from the last week and then visit Chemical Watch News & Insight to catch all the latest chemicals management news from around the globe. Have a podcast idea or a comment to share? Let us know by emailing the editor at [email protected].

This week’s Podcast Short looks at our top stories from Washington state and the EU, plus other significant developments from New Mexico, Canada and more. In Washington state, the Department of Ecology has outlined what priority products are likely to see restrictions next under the Safer Products for Washington (SPW) programme. In the EU, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has cut the safe dietary exposure level for trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), signalling increasing regularly scrutiny for the ultra-short-chain PFAS. And the UK government has formally extended UK REACH registration deadlines for the third and likely final time.Other stories discussed include: New guidance from New Mexico to help companies comply with its upcoming PFAS labelling regime; Canada adding the first chemical to its Watch List of potentially concerning substances; A federal judge blocks enforcement of California’s recyclability labelling law; UN PFAS review highlights divisions over how to manage the persistent chemicals. Tune in to hear more and then visit Chemical Watch News & Insight to catch all the latest news in chemicals management. Have a podcast idea or a comment to share? Let us know by emailing the editor at [email protected].

The latest episode of Enhesa’s Chemical Watch News & Insight podcast discusses the ambitious slate of TSCA actions outlined in the US government’s recent update to the unified regulatory agenda, as well as the timing of anticipated proposals from the Food and Drug Administration.North America managing editor Kelly Franklin joins the podcast to talk about the many chemicals-related actions the EPA hopes to release in the coming months, including as many as ten major proposed or finalised TSCA rules in July alone. We also discuss the FDA’s planned timelines to release proposals that would amend the GRAS process, restrict formaldehyde-releasers in hair products and mandate the disclosure of fragrance allergens in cosmetics. Tune in to catch the full episode! Then come back to read all the latest developments in chemicals policy from Enhesa’s Chemical Watch News & Insight. Have a podcast idea or a comment to share? Let us know by emailing the editor at [email protected].

Catch up on the latest headlines from Chemical Watch News & Insight with our latest Podcast Short. This week, we look at discussions from a meeting of the EU’s Environment Council, where ministers said the upcoming REACH update should focus on gaps in enforcement and digitizing data-sharing infrastructure. In the US, the Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of Monsanto in a case over state-level failure-to-warn claims related to its glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup, a decision that could have significant implications for warning requirements under California’s Proposition 65 scheme. And in Asia, regulators in China have moved to simplify the country’s approval process for new cosmetic ingredients. Elsewhere in the world, the podcast covers the latest developments on: a proposed EPA listing of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and six other ultrashort fluorinated compounds for drinking water monitoring; Rhode Island adding an exemption for its PFAS restriction law; a provisional agreement between the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers on the proposed basic regulation governing ECHA; and more! Tune in to hear a summary of our top stories from the past week. And then come back to read all the latest developments in chemicals policy from Enhesa’s Chemical Watch News & Insight. Have a podcast idea or a comment to share? Let us know by emailing the editor at [email protected].

This week’s Chemical Watch News & Insight podcast from Enhesa looks at two recent recommendations from ECHA’s Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC): one saying the ultra-short-chain PFAS TFA warrants classification as a reprotoxicant, and another agreeing with a French proposal to classify the acne treatment ingredient resorcinol as a category 1 endocrine disruptor. Science editor Andrew Turley joins the podcast to talk about the RAC’s recommendation for trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and the implications if the PFAS is ultimately classified as a reprotoxicant and potentially more under the EU CLP Regulation. In addition, science reporter Dr Emma Davies discusses resorcinol and what it means if the industrial ingredient becomes the first substance to be classified as an endocrine disruptor for human health under the CLP Regulation. Tune in to catch the full episode! And then come back to read all the latest developments in chemicals policy from Enhesa’s Chemical Watch News & Insight. Have a podcast idea or a comment to share? Let us know by emailing the editor at [email protected].

This week’s Chemical Watch News & Insight podcast from Enhesa looks at where things stand with the proposed REACH revision as well as actions by some individual EU member states to forge their own path, including new restrictions on PFAS. Managing editor for Europe Leigh Stringer joins the podcast to talk about EU chemicals policy, including the REACH revision and a recent push from several members of Parliament who want to see reforms to ECHA before taking steps to revise the bloc’s main chemicals legislation. And EMEA reporter Eline Schaart discusses what is ahead for EU member states, as several countries forge ahead with their own national measures, including restrictions on PFAS in certain products. Tune in to catch the full episode! And then come back to read all the latest developments in chemicals policy from Enhesa’s Chemical Watch News & Insight. Have a podcast idea or a comment to share? Let us know by emailing the editor at [email protected].

This week’s Chemical Watch News & Insight podcast from Enhesa takes a look at what is ahead for the global packaging sector. Senior editor Charlotte Niemiec joins us to talk about the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) taking effect later this year and what that means for companies. We’ll also discuss the growing number of US states that have adopted extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws, including the status of the federal lawsuit challenging Oregon's scheme. Tune in to learn more. And then we hope you will come back to read all the latest headlines from Enhesa’s Chemical Watch News & Insight. Have a podcast idea or a comment to share? Let us know by emailing the host at [email protected].

This week’s Chemical Watch News & Insight podcast looks at the factors behind retailer Patagonia’s 20-year journey to phase out the use of intentionally added PFAS. Business editor Shanda Moorghen joins the podcast to talk about Patagonia’s recent announcement that it has phased out PFAS from its new products, how it got there, and why the company says it still will not market its products as "PFAS free". We also discuss the roles that NGO advocates, lawmakers and industry all have to play as more businesses and jurisdictions grapple with how to deal with the persistent, but useful, class of chemicals. Tune in to learn more. And then come back to read the latest headlines from Enhesa’s Chemical Watch News & Insight. Have a podcast idea or a comment to share? Let us know by emailing the editor at [email protected].

In this episode, North America desk editor Julia John talks about California legislation that could limit phthalates in IV bags, bisphenols in children's products and more. Asia senior reporter Uzair Aftab talks about how businesses are dealing with Taiwan's upcoming deadline for registering more than 100 priority existing chemicals. Finally, senior reporter on biocides, Vanessa Zainainger, joins us to talk about Biobor JR, an exempted jet fuel preservative, and how it came to enter, and stay, on the EU market.