From 10 to 11 September 2024, the 6th REACH Congress took place at the German Environment Agency (UBA) in Dessau-Rosslau with more than 500 experts from companies, scientists, non-governmental organisations and public authorities. The discussion focussed on solutions to avoid harmful emissions of chemicals into the environment. read more
Chemicals
Chemicals in articles: EU LIFE Project AskREACH
The AskREACH project aims at raising awareness on Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) in articles among the European population, retailers and industry. AskREACH developed the smartphone app Scan4Chem which can be used to readily receive information on SVHCs in consumer articles or send information requests to suppliers. The European Chemicals Regulation REACH provides the legal framework. read more
ZnO nanoforms - REACH substance evaluation: environmental aspects
Together with the Federal Office for Chemicals and the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, the German Environment Agency (UBA) has been carrying out a REACH substance evaluation on the registered nanoforms of zinc oxide since 2017. The assessment of the data on the environmental behaviour and effects of the registered zinc oxide nanoforms is now concluded. read more
Assessment value set for plasticisers in urine
At its meeting on 22 March, the Human Biomonitoring (HBM) Commission at the German Environment Agency (UBA) derived a health-based assessment value (HBM value) for mono-n-hexyl phthalate (MnHexP) in urine. read more
NonHazCity 3 Building Award: Policies for non-hazardous buildings
NonHazCity 3 is a European project under the framework of the EU Interreg Program for the Baltic Sea Region. The project aims to reduce hazardous substances in the construction sector and to support circular construction. A NonHazCity Building Award will be given to celebrate the most effective laws and policies for non-hazardous buildings – nominations are welcome! Deadline is the 15th June 2024. read more
Antibiotic resistance: Study shows high pressure to take action
The AOK medical insurance association, under the leadership of AOK Baden-Württemberg, together with the IWW Rhine-Westphalian Institute for Water Research and with the support of the German Environment Agency, launched a pilot study on ecological sustainability in antibiotic supply. read more
Misleading calculation: EU plans for pesticide reduction at risk
The use of pesticides is to be halved by 2030, according to the draft EU regulation on pesticide reduction. This goal is to be verified using pesticide sales data. In the view of the German Environment Agency this method is misleading. Pesticides that are no longer approved are weighted too high. Decreasing sales figures would indicate a decreasing trend, which does not happen in the field. read more
New Global Framework on Chemicals adopted
The Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC) adopted at the fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5) in Bonn sets concrete targets and guidelines for the entire lifecycle of chemicals. In addition to this framework, the conference also adopted the Bonn Declaration, in which ministers and delegation leaders committed to the implementation of the GFC. read more