Thailand Revises Ingredient Restrictions
On 22 June 20023, the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand (MOPH) issued three notices detailing regulatory revisions to prohibited ingredients and revisions to permitted preservatives in cosmetics.
The updated prohibited ingredients list includes an additional 220 ingredients.
The full list can be downloaded here.
The revisions align Thailand's Prohibited Ingredients List and List of Permitted Preservatives in Cosmetics with the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD).
China Introduces the First Standard for Micro-Ecological Cosmetics
In response to Chinese consumers increasing focus on maintaining a balanced skin microecology, China has introduced a standard for micro-ecological cosmetics standardising methods for evaluating the skin microbiome.
China’s Household Chemicals Industry Association have introduced Guidelines for Evaluating the Effects of Cosmetics on Skin Microbiota Microbiome - T/CHCIA 010—2023
The standard:
- Provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating the effects of cosmetics on skin microbiota or microbiome.
- Offers definitions of terms and claims associated with skin microecology
- Establishes the necessary tests to be conducted in accordance with the Safety Standards for Cosmetics and the Technical Guidelines for Cosmetic Safety Assessment to ensure product safety
China’s Anti-Aging Promoting Association have introduced Efficacy Assessment for Skin Microecology/Microbiome-Modulating Cosmetics – T/ZGKSL 002-2023
The standard:
- Specifies the basis of microecology, defining micro-ecological skin care and cosmetics and the basic requirements for micro-ecological-related ingredients
- Establishes methods to enable the comparison of species composition of microbial communities
The standards are voluntary and in full effect.
Hong Kong Implements Stricter Measures to Regulate Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides
On 14 June, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region submitted two crucial amendments: the Hazardous Chemicals Control Ordinance (Amendment of Schedules 1 and 2) Order 2023 (Amendment Order) and the Pesticides Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 1) Notice 2023, to the Legislative Council .
The following amendments were made:
- Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts, and its PFOA-related compounds will be added to Schedule 2.
- Short-chain chlorinated paraffins, which are currently prescribed in Schedule 2, will be added to Schedule 1 for more stringent control.
- The following hazardous substances will be added to schedule 1:
- hexachlorobutadiene;
- polychlorinated naphthalenes; and
- decabromodiphenyl ether
The amendments align Hong Kong with international conventions on chemical safety.
The amended legislation is set to take effect in Hong Kong on October 20, 2023. Violators of these new regulations will face severe penalties, including fines of up to $50,000 and imprisonment for a period of one year.
China Plans to Revise the Rules of Classification and Labelling to Align with GHS Revision 8
China has taken a significant step towards aligning its chemical classification and labelling rules with the latest version of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS Rev 8).
On 14 June, China released the general specifications on GHS: GB 30000.1 for public comment. The update is planned to replace the existing GB 13690-2009 General Rule for Classification and Hazard Communication of Chemicals.
Under the proposed revision, China introduces a new classification category: Desensitised Explosives. This addition expands the total number of GHS classifications in China to 29 distinct categories.
Interested parties are invited to provide feedback , with the consultation period extending until 15 August 2023.
China to Prohibit Five POPs
On 6 June, several Chinese ministries jointly announced specific requirements aimed at eliminating or restricting the usage of five POPs to fulfil their obligations under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
These substances include:
- Hexachlorobutadiene
- Polychlorinated naphthalene
- Pentachlorophenol and its salts and esters
- Decabromodiphenyl oxide
- Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs).
The restrictions are in full effect, some exemptions do apply.
EU adds to Annex A of the Stockholm Convention
On 24 May, the Official Journal of the European Union published the EU’s official position on the proposed amendments to Annex A of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) adopted at the Conference of Parties.
The resolution reads:
(a) to support the listing of dechlorane plus in Annex A, with specific exemptions recommended by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (the ‘POPRC’);
(b) to support the listing of methoxychlor in Annex A, without any specific exemptions; and
(c) to support the listing of UV-328 in Annex A, with the specific exemptions recommended by the POPRC
At the meeting the following substances were listed in Annex A:
- Dechlorane plus (CAS No: 13560-89-9)
- Methoxychlor (CAS No: 72-43-5)
- UV-32 (CAS No: 25973-55-1)
UK REACH Registration Deadlines Extended
UK REACH Registration Deadlines Extended, DEFRA Publishes Reports
The legislation to extend the registration deadlines for UK REACH has been finalised and published, set to come into force on 19 July 2023.
This extension grants an additional three years, pushing the previous deadlines of October 27, 2023, 2025, and 2027 to October 27, 2026, 2028, and 2030, respectively.
In addition, the legislation also extends the deadlines for selecting 20% of dossiers for compliance checks, ensuring they apply after the relevant submission deadlines. The REACH (Amendment) Regulations 2023, available on legislation.gov.uk, provides detailed information on the amendments.
DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) has released reports pertaining to Article 117 and Article 138 of UK REACH.
Article 117 mandates DEFRA to publish a report on the operational experience of UK REACH and support for alternative testing methods. The evaluation of UK REACH to date has been carried out and published on DEFRA Science Search, addressing the first requirement.
Article 138 requires DEFRA to conduct a review of REACH on specific topics within 18 months of the UK's departure from the EU. The review covers the investigation of the need for CSAs and CSRs for substances registered in the 1 to 10 tonnage band, a review of Article 33 regarding duties on suppliers to provide information on SVHCs in articles, and a review of Annex VIII, Section 8.7 concerning reproductive toxicity testing.
The conclusions of the review indicate that, at this time, no changes are proposed.
ECHA public consultation: call for comments
Public Consultation Announced for Harmonized Classification and Labelling Proposals
ECHA has recently initiated public consultations on proposed harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) for the following substances:
1. Talc (Mg3H2(SiO3)4) (EC: 238-877-9; CAS: 14807-96-6) - Registered under REACH. Health hazard classes are open for commenting.
2. Eugenol; 2-methoxy-4-(prop-2-en-1-yl)phenol (EC: 202-589-1; CAS: 97-53-0) - Pesticidal active substance. All hazard classes are open for commenting.
3. Eugenol; 2-methoxy-4-(prop-2-en-1-yl)phenol (EC: 202-589-1; CAS: 97-53-0) - Pesticidal active substance. Health hazard class is open for commenting.
Interested parties and stakeholders are invited to submit relevant information on the ECHA website.
For scientific and technical information, direct submission to ECHA can be made using their commenting webform by 18 August 2023. Please note that comments submitted will be published on ECHA's website.
Additional information about the consultation process can be found on the HSE website.
