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2010

May

(EU) 453/2010 amending REACH re Annex II now available (31/05/2010)
(EU) 453/2010 amending REACH re Annex II now available as a pdf download

Downstream Users can check list of intended 2010 registrations (17/05/2010)

Downstream users of chemicals have the opportunity to check whether the critical chemical substances that they need are going to be registered in time. ECHA has published a list of all the chemical substances that companies have told us they plan to register for the 2010 REACH deadline. If a substance should be registered in 2010 and it is not, it will be illegal to manufacture or sell it within the EU after 30 November 2010.

It is therefore important that downstream users consult the list to make sure that their high volume and hazardous substances are included (lower volume and less hazardous substances don’t have to be registered this year).

The ECHA website also provides information on what to do if a substance that should be registered in 2010 is not on the list. The list will be updated periodically to allow companies to check again.

The substances which need to meet the 2010 registration deadline are those manufactured and imported in the largest quantities (over 1000 tonnes per annum) and those which are potentially the most hazardous to the environment (above 100 tonnes) or to human beings (above 1 tonne).

The list can be found here

ECHA publishes new guidance on waste and recovered substances (14/05/2010)

The new guidance is intended for companies who recycle and recover as recycled or recovered chemical substances do not necessarily need to be registered under REACH.

The guidance provides advice on the obligations under REACH and clarifies the criteria that need to be met in order for companies to benefit from that exemption. Companies who do not fulfil these obligations will have to register their recycled or recovered chemical substances. It also explains their obligation to share information on recycled and recovered substances in the supply chain.

Download the ECHA guidance pdf

British Professional Association for Transport/CDG? (03/05/2010)
In the last two years a couple of issues have emerged relating to the level of training and expertise of those involved in the transport/carriage of dangerous goods.  One issue has been the growing international awareness that the levels of expertise of those involved in the transport of dangerous goods is being lost, with the consequential increased risk of a significant dangerous goods accident/incident. What can be done to address this problem?  A meeting is being held on 1st June 2010 to discuss the potential establishment of a British Professional Association for DGSAs and others involved in the transport or carriage of dangerous goods.  Talks include talks by DfT, DGSAAI & NCEC. 

Download the information pdf or contact us for more information.

April

Ban on use of methyl bromide causes world cricket bat shortage (29/04/2010)

As has recently been reported the production of cricket bats may well be reduced this year. This is due to the Indian government only allowing imports of English Willow into the country that have been fumigated with methyl bromide. Though the wood is grown in England, more specifically East Anglia, India is the worlds leading bat manufacturing nation.

Methyl bromide was a widely used insecticide which was previously also used for crop protection purposes in the soft fruit industry. It was mentioned in the Montreal Protocols as it is an ozone depleting substance and signatories to the Protocol agreed to phase out its use. The European Commission Ozone Depleting Substances Regulation (EC Regulation 2037/2000) meant that a Commercial Withdrawal Notice was issued on 21st September 2004. Addition to stocks of the substance was stopped by 31st December 2004 and by 31st December 2005 the majority of its uses were ceased. However this year a total ban came into force which includes its use as a pre-shipment fumigant for export.

English Willow is used for the production bats due to its properties. It is relatively light whilst still being dense enough not to splinter under the impact of a cricket ball travelling at close to 100mph. Though other woods are available, most notably Kashmiri Willow, they do not have the correct balance of properties. This is why English Willow is seen as the ultimate wood for cricket bat manufacture and English Willow bats are used by all world’s top players.

Northern Ireland issues new carriage of dangerous goods regulations. (26/04/2010)
Changes have been made to the following:  1- The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (SR 2010/160) which comes into operation on 19 May and 2- The Carriage of Explosives Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (SR 2010/59)

They make reference to the "Dangerous Goods: Approved Derogations and Transitional Provisions" (ADTP) issued in support of the CDG2009 Regulations.

More information is available at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/sr/sr-2010-index (No. 59 and No. 160)

How do I tell if a safety data sheet (SDS) is legal? (23/04/2010)

Need help answering the fundamental question about an SDS? "Does this document provide me with the information to take the necessary steps to protect people and environment?" 

View NCEC's guide

March

Mephedrone - what's it all about? (30/03/2010)

Mephedrone has seen its fair share of news coverage in the past few months but what is it and what does it actually do?

View our technical note about Mephedrone, written by one of our expert chemists

Hazmat Event 2010 a great success (01/03/2010)

The 2010 Hazmat Event promised to be bigger and better than ever before and thanks to ongoing support from both the Emergency Services and a large variety of other Hazmat Professionals, this promise was not broken.

Read the Hazmat Event 2010 overview

February

New ChemeDox SDS Location Module now available (17/02/2010)

As an extension to ChemeDox®, NCEC’s comprehensive chemical safety documentation management system, we have now added a new SDS Location module.  This module is designed to save you time and money on audits, process reviews and daily tasks, and will help you comply with legislation associated wit the provision of chemical safety information to employees and subcontractors.  It allows you to assign your SDSs to particular locations, then view and search your documents by, for example, site, store, production line, lab etc.  The module is tailored to your business so you can search your documents in a way that is relevant to you, whilst maintaining your audit trail by location.

More information on ChemeDox®

NCEC launch new Chemdata Customer Portal (08/02/2010)

Not only have NCEC just launched the new Chemdata customer portal, but Chemdata has never been better value!  The latest version of Chemdata has an extra 1,000 substances and 4,000 extra synonyms and Trade names.  This brings the grand total of substances to 36,000 with over 116,000 synonyms and Trade names. The Customer Portal allows our customers to download the latest versions of Chemdata and Pocket Chemdata, as well as get to know more about the Chemdata team here at NCEC.  We would like to thank our customers for the overwhelming positive feedback, it makes all the hard work worth while.

January

New Press Release: Advanced marine spill simulation software is key to coastal environmental protection (29/01/2010)

Marine incidents involving chemical substances are more complex to deal with than oil spills (for which several simulation tools already exist).  Dealing with one single substance dispersed at sea can be difficult enough, but when two or more are present these may interact in a wholly different way, forming complex chemical compounds. In addition, the variables required to assess the exact conditions of each incident are many, including tidal currents, weather patterns and proximity to population centres.

View the Press Release

Five die in oxygen tank explosion at Ukraine hospital (18/01/2010)

Read the BBC news story

 

For articles prior to 2010, please see our News Archive Older Content page.