ECHA Publishes PFAS Restriction Proposal
A proposal prepared by five authorities restricting the use of per-and polyfluroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been published by the European Chemical Agency (ECHA).
Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden submitted the proposal to restrict the use of PFAS in January 2023. The restriction aims to reduce PFAS emissions into the environment and make manufacturing processes and end-products safer.
PFAS enter the environment through product or waste streams and are very persistent in the environment and the human body. Toxicological evidence shows some PFAS have adverse reproductive, developmental and immunological effects in animals and humans.
On the proposal the ECHA's Director for Risk Assessment noted:
“This landmark proposal by the five authorities supports the ambitions of the EU’s Chemicals Strategy and the Zero Pollution action plan. Now, our scientific committees will start their evaluation and opinion forming. While the evaluation of such a broad proposal with thousands of substances, and many uses, will be challenging, we are ready.”
Next steps: ECHA scientific committees for Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis will check the proposal meets the legal requirements of REACH. If it does, the committee will begin their scientific evaluation of the proposal and issue an opinion which will then be sent to the European Commission for a final review.
European Citizen Initiative Call to Strengthen Animal Testing Ban
An initiative launched in August 2021 with leading global animal protection groups Humane Society International (HSI), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Cruelty Free Europe and the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE) have called on the European Commission to protect and strengthen the cosmetic animal testing ban.
In the EU, selling cosmetic products tested on animals is prohibited, the ban applies to both the final formulation of the product and the ingredients used. However, a Member State may issue a derogation to the ban in exceptional circumstance, for example where there are serious safety concerns regarding the use of an ingredient.
The initiative is calling for a "robust implementation" of the ban and a commitment to a plan to phase out all all experiments on animals.
International Collaboration on Cosmetic Safety Members Push for Animal-Free Testing Globally
The new International Collaboration on Cosmetic Safety (ICCS) was launched to promote the use of animal-free safety assessments globally.
Comprised of some of the world's largest personal care product manufacturers, and ingredient suppliers, the ICCS intends to fund the scientific evaluation of animal-free safety assessments and fund education and training activities to build confidence in applying these new approaches.
Erin Hill, president and CEO of ICCS noted:
“ICCS brings together scientists from leading organisations around the world to continue this momentum and work toward our shared ambition for a future where no ingredients or products are tested on animals. ICCS is a global collaboration focused on animal-free safety science for cosmetics and ingredients, which currently face unique challenges and inconsistent global regulations. I am honoured to lead the organisation at such an important time.”
It is worth noting although research has progressed in demonstrating the sufficiency of animal-free testing methods, many international policies and regulations still require animal test data to substantiate the safety of a product.
