In this latest episode of the Chemical Watch news podcast, our North America reporter Jon Kelvey talks about the significance of a bill that has been passed in California, restricting more than a dozen substances from cosmetic products and banning the manufacture or sale of cosmetics containing them from January 2025.
Global managing editor, Kate Lowe, is also joined by Europe correspondent Clelia Oziel who reveals the thinking behind the UK government's decision to give industry more time – up to six years in some cases – to complete registration dossiers under the UK REACH, which comes into being on 1 January next year.
And staying with the transition to UK REACH, Europe reporter Kathryn Carlson talks about the UK government’s disbanding of the expert trade advisory group for the chemicals sector – a move that NGOs fear could lead to compromises on environmental protection and health as the country negotiates post-Brexit trade deals involving chemicals.
Finally, we return to the US and hear from North America managing editor Terry Hyland about last Friday's publication by the US EPA of the final scope documents for the risk evaluation of 20 high-priority substances under TSCA. The agency also released the final list of companies that will be responsible for paying a share of the $1.35m fee that comes with each risk evaluation. So a big day for chemicals management.