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Styrene
In June 2011 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Toxicology Program released the 12th Report on Carcinogens (12th RoC) that added styrene to the list of substances that are reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens.
The addition of styrene to the 12th RoC will trigger an Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s (OSHA) HAZCOM standard requirement that cancer warning labels be placed on drums of styrene monomer.
ASC members utilizing and storing styrene monomer on site, the HAZCOM standard would require the following within 30 days:
- Drums or other containers styrene monomer would require appropriate cancer warning labels
- Products manufactured for industrial use containing .1 percent or more of styrene monomer would require appropriate product warning labels and be referenced in the MSDS information
- Employee safety training program would also require adjustment to reflect on site storage of styrene monomer
The Styrene Information and Research (SIRC) filed a motion seeking preliminary injunction that was denied by the US District Court for the District of Columbia in early July. It is expected that SIRC and other interested parties will go forward with litigation to require HHS to withdraw the listing. Click here to review.
ASC will continue to monitor this issue and its impacts on members.
Department of Health & Human Services Report Adds Styrene as Possible Carcinogen
Report on Carcinogens, Twelfth Edition (2011)
International Associations List
JAPAN
ASC Alert Regarding Shipments from Japan following Tsunami Disaster
EUROPE
FEICA Position Paper on Use of Gloves for MDI Containing Mixtures
FEICA approves testing protocol for gloves to provided to general consumers purchasing MDI containing adhesives.
REACH
The Prime Minister of Finland, President of the European Parliament, formally signed the REACH text on 18 December 2006. REACH came into effect June 1, 2007.
During the pre-registration period most manufacturers and importers of substances in the EU were required to make decisions about continuing to supply and pre-register their substances. Manufacturers and importers had to ensure their uses and sources of supply of raw materials would be protected by regular discussion with their suppliers. The description of use requirement was left to the industry, which had to balance the level of disclosure against the declaration of risk submitted by the substance Registrants or, in some cases, the downstream user.
The pre-registration period for chemical substances ran from June 1, 2008 to November 30, 2008. Approximately 150,000 chemicals were preregistered by the November 30 deadline. Companies that failed pre-register qualifying substances during pre-registration period can no longer use those substances in the EU or immediately must register the substances including stating the identified uses.
Key Dates
- June 1, 2007 -- REACH is enacted
- June 1 -- November 30, 2008 -- Pre-Registration
- December 1, 2010 -- First Registration deadline (1000 tonnes +)
- December 1, 2013 -- Second Registration deadline (100 tonnes +)
- December 1, 2018 -- Third Registration deadline (1 tonne +)
European Chemical Agency Guidance Documents
The European Chemicals Agency released four guidance documents to help chemical manufacturers, importers and firms that purchase chemicals understand their obligations under REACH. The documents include advice for firms located outside the EU that import chemicals, preparations or articles into it. Copies of all four guidance documents are below.
For more information, access the EU's official REACH web page.
For further
information on the Government Relations issues, please contact Mark
Collatz, ASC's Director of Government Relations, at (301) 986-9700
ext. 112.
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