Meetings update
Global
The International Sustainable Chemistry Collaboration Centre (ISC3) plans to publish a "common understanding" that defines the concept of sustainable chemistry in autumn this year.
The common understanding was originally expected to be presented this month, during the centre's Global Sustainable Chemistry week. But the week of events will no longer take place in 2020, according to an email from the ISC3, because of restrictions on international travel and large gatherings imposed during the coronavirus pandemic. The centre will instead hold some of the events initially planned as part of the week in the fourth quarter of 2020.
And the paper is now expected to be presented in autumn, when the ISC3 hopes to host its second forum for stakeholders if restrictions have been lifted. The paper is currently being revised.
At the centre's first forum, in June 2019, some stakeholders called for the centre to define sustainable chemistry, saying that the current ambiguity of the concept could be used to greenwash products or initiatives because it lacks a clearly defined set of metrics.
Consultation delays
US
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has set new dates for a public hearing to discuss agency priorities for fiscal years 2021-22, following a postponement of the originally scheduled meeting due to Covid-19.
The hearing will take place in a webinar format on 27 May.
Derogations tracker or eased regulations
Denmark
The Danish EPA has ordered four companies to immediately recall four hand disinfection products from the market.
One of these, sold by Total Rent.dk, contains active chlorine generated from sodium chloride by electrolysis, which is not approved under the EU biocidal products Regulation for use in human hygiene products.
Another three products – sold by the companies Elite Trading, Socco and Sæbefabrikken – contain didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC). The companies have not been able to document that DDAC is effective against viruses, the EPA said.
The EPA has been increasing market surveillance of hand disinfectants, after finding illegal products entering the market during the pandemic.
All companies have been ordered to send recall letters to retailers and consumers that have purchased the products in the last year.
Malta
Malta’s competition and consumer affairs authority has released a list of disinfectant products that are considered effective against viruses in line with guidance from the WHO and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
And the authority has published a database of biocidal products, including disinfectants, that have authorisation to be placed on the Maltese market. The resource includes information on each product’s uses and hyperlinks to product labels.
US
Nine states, including California, New York and Michigan, have sued the US EPA over its decision in March to ease enforcement against companies unable to meet "routine" monitoring and reporting requirements due to disruptions caused by Covid-19. The EPA has defended its action, saying it is using its discretion on enforcement to prioritise its resources. The American Chemistry Council has also said the policy gives the EPA needed "flexibility" during the pandemic.
In their lawsuit, however, the states allege the EPA’s policy "gives regulated parties free rein to self-determine when compliance with federal environmental laws is not practical because of Covid-19". The agency faces a similar lawsuit in the same federal court in New York from more than a dozen NGOs, seeking an order to make companies disclose if and when they stop environmental monitoring or reporting to the EPA.
Acting head of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Loren Sweatt, will testify before a US House committee on 20 May. The House Education and Labor subcommittee on workforce protections will hold a hearing on the US government’s actions to protect workers from Covid-19, available by live video. Sweatt will be one of two witnesses at the hearing, joined by John Howard, director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.