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Peter Fisk Associates Ltd is proud to announce that since January 2008, it is quality assured to ISO 9001:2000 standards as Consultants in Environmental Chemistry, Ecotoxicology and Regulatory Compliance. (reg. no 182405). This reflects official accreditation of our existing internal Quality Management System, in place at PFA since 2006. |
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On 11th October 2007, LGC at Teddington hosted a meeting on "REACH - The Analytical Toolbox". The main focus of the meeting was issues surrounding substance identity and characterisation for REACH and was attended by delegates from industry, CROs and LGC. Louise McLaughlin of PFA presented a brief overview of how REACH endpoint test data are used for hazard communication and chemical safety assessment, and highlighted some areas where chemical analysis is used for obtaining and interpreting data. |
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PFA representatives Peter Fisk and Lucy Wilmot attended the latest meeting of the Regulatory Physicochemical and Characterisation (RPC) Group at NOTOX in 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, on 31st January 2008. The meeting was well attended, and important and topical issues were discussed. The main issues covered were the changes to physico-chemical testing method guidelines, specified in the new REACH Regulation, specifically REACH Implementation Project 3.3. Queries relating to the testing methods were addressed, and QSPR and other prediction techniques were discussed.
A main outcome from the meeting was a general agreement that there is a need for comprehensive information detailing how physico-chemical endpoints are used. Information such as cut-off points for classification and labelling, and PBT assessments, and for further environmental fate and toxicity tests, would help determine how physico-chemical tests could be conducted to maximize the usefulness of results.
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The next RPC meeting will be held at Notox in the Netherlands on 31st January 2008. For further details please contact us. |
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One of the PFA team attended a seminar hosted by the Royal Society of Chemistry and NC3Rs at Burlington House entitled 'Opportunities and challenges for the replacement, refinement and reduction of animals in research and testing'. Presentations included ongoing work at research and development level of new 'Omics' technology (which in future could allow rapid screening of substances without animal testing); development of new in vitro technologies for testing endpoints such as sensitisation and genetic toxicity, and the work of the European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing (EPAA) in evaluation new approaches for repeat dose reproductive/developmental testing using fewer animals. |
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The REACH Regulation became law in December 2006 and came into force on June 1st 2007. It is intended that the registration, evaluation and authorisation procedures will ultimately lead to control of chemical risks to health and the environment in Europe, and promote the substitution of more hazardous substances with substances which are of less concern. The European Chemicals Agency is now operational. It will be responsible for managing the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction processes for chemical substances. |
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Peter Fisk Associates is an approved supplier for CIA's REACHReady. Click here to learn more about how PFA can provide support for REACH compliance. |
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Sources of official information about REACH include:
The UK Government REACH website
The European Chemicals Agency website
The European Union REACH website |
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The long-awaited Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment regulations came into force on 1st July 2007. These Regulations implement EC Directives 2002/96/EC and 2003/108/EC which aim to minimise the impact of electrical and electronic goods on the environment. They make producers responsible for financing the collection, treatment, and recovery of waste electrical equipment. Distributors are obliged to allow consumers to return their waste equipment free of charge. |
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The Iron Salts HPV category (ICCA/OECD) was discussed at SIAM 24 in Paris in April 2007. PFA supported the industry lead organisation in preparing the submission for this category of ten salts and hydrates, which passed smoothly through the discussion process and is expected to be published later in 2007. |
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With REACH implementation approaching fast, PFA is busy helping clients prepare for compliance. In recent months we are very pleased to have been involved with major REACH related projects for three important industrial clients. |
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PFA is pleased to announce that we are a CIA REACHReady approved service provider. REACHReady is a network created to support the chemicals industry in respect of REACH compliance. For more information about REACHReady, click here. |
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The ESR environmental risk assessments of three phosphate flame retardants, with which PFA has been involved on behalf of the UK (co-Rapporteur with Ireland), were discussed and well received at TC NES IV in December 2006. It is hoped that these documents will be finalised and published online later in 2007. |
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The Regulatory Physico-Chemical discussion group met in October 2006 to explore the forthcoming challenges of REACH. Thanks to LGC in Runcorn for their hospitality in hosting the meeting.
The next meeting is planned for summer 2007, to discuss REACH technical guidance. For more information, to be kept up to date with RPC Group news, and to discuss the forthcoming new website dedicated to the Group and its members' interests, please contact us. |
