Restriction requirements of formaldehyde release was newly added to Annex XVII of EU REACH
On July 17, 2023, the European Union published Regulation (EU) 2023/1464 in the Official Journal to amend Annex XVII to the EU REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, the new Entry 77 on formaldehyde (CAS No. 50-00-0) released was added. According to the amendment, after August 6, 2026, the concentration of formaldehyde released from those articles shall not exceeds 0.062 mg/m3 for furniture and wood-based articles or 0.080 mg/m3 for articles other than furniture and wood-based articles. And after August 6, 2027, the concentration of formaldehyde in the interior of those road vehicles shall not exceeds 0.062 mg/m3. In addition, the amendment also specifies certain situations where provisions do not apply. The amendment shall enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal.
A new exemption entry was added to Annex IV of EU RoHS
On July 11, 2023, the European Union published Directive (EU) 2023/1437 in its Official Journal, the Entry 49 was added to Annex IV of EU RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU). The highlights of Directive (EU) 2023/1437 are as following:
| Entry |
Exemption scope |
Scope of product category and validity period |
| Annex IV, Entry 49. |
Mercury in melt pressure transducers for capillary rheometers at temperatures over 300 °C and pressures over 1000 bar. |
Applies to category 9 and expires on 31 December 2025 |
- Textiles, leather, furs, hides and outdoor clothing;
- Related accessories such as handbags and footwear for the general public;
- Paper and cardboard used as food contact materials (FCMs);
- Mixtures for the general public;
- Cosmetic products; and
- Some firefighting foam applications
The European Union listed UV-328, Dechlorane plus and Methoxychlor in Appendix A of the Stockholm Convention
On 24 May 2023, the Official Journal of the European Union, L 136 has published the Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union at the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants with regard to the proposed amendments to Annex A.
(a) Support the inclusion of Dechlorane Plus in Annex A, with the specific exemptions recommended by the POPRC;
(b) Support the inclusion of methoxychlor in Annex A, with-out specific derogations;
(c) Support the inclusion of UV-328 in Annex A, with the specific exemptions recommended by the POPRC.
POPs substances listed in Annex A, B and C of the Stock-holm Convention has now been increased to 36.