News

Fulfilling information requirements under REACH can be difficult for some types of substances. This is particularly true for carbon-based nanomaterials such as multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). FoBiG, together with TSafeE GmbH and TSafeG Co. Ltd. as well as other colleagues, has described the problems in two articles for the journal Environmental Sciences Nano: one on selected aspects of environmental fate and the other on in vitro testing for eye irritation, skin sensitisation and gene mutations in mammalian cells. The articles present the challenges and possible solutions for generating adequate data for the endpoints considered in a regulatory context. 

We mourn the loss of our former colleague Gabriele Häffner, who passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on March 24.
We have lost a longtime colleague, friend, and dear companion. Gabriele had been part of FoBiG from the very beginning and helped shape our company from the secretariat, always supporting us with warmth. We are grateful that she was part of FoBiG for so long.

Consumer exposure to chemicals in the EU is currently assessed separately for different products without aggregating exposure from different sources. A new study conducted by FoBiG together with Clariant develops an aggregate consumer exposure and risk assessment methodology that assesses exposure of seven population groups via all pathways. Key input values normalized to body weight are used to reflect population-specific differences. The study demonstrates the feasibility of the methodology by assessing consumer exposure to the antioxidant Hostanox® O 3 via food, drinking water, textiles and defined consumer uses. This study may inform further development of aggregate exposure and risk methods in EU regulatory frameworks.

On March 18, Karin Heine will present a poster entitled “Practical approach to dermal risk assessment for seven reprotoxic substances contained in epoxy resin systems.” Seven reactive diluents from epoxy resin systems were recently classified as reprotoxic (Repro. 1B) based on new test results. The amendments to the Hazardous Substances Ordinance (§ 10a GefStoffV) stipulate that an exposure register must now also be kept for reproductive toxic substances if exposure poses a health risk. In order to assess the risk after dermal exposure to substances that are also skin sensitizers, an assessment of skin absorption for the seven substances and the resulting health risk was carried out. This work was carried out as part of the support for the Epoxy Resin Ingredients Working Group. We look forward to your visit and interesting discussions.

We would like to thank you for the pleasant and trusting partnership over the past year and send greetings with a glimpse of the winter park outside our office building. Like the old plane tree in the picture, FoBiG grows and changes with the seasons – yet remains true to itself. Midway through the year, long-time employees Karin Heine and Eva Kaiser took over management from Jan Oltmans, who remains with us as an experienced scientist. With this transition, we’re actively carrying FoBiG’s established ways of working into the future. At the same time, Klaus Schneider stepped down as shareholder of our company. However, we are pleased to have won Anne Bierwisch, Henrike Berkefeld, Melanie Macherey, Stephanie Kraft and Aileen Fiand as new shareholders. This move reflects their intention to take part in shaping our company long term. We look forward to new roles, fresh ideas, and exciting projects in 2026 – and wish you a relaxing break and a happy New Year.

From 31 December 2025, Notifications of Interest (NoI) for the EUPL can be submitted to ECHA. These are a prerequisite for a subsequent application to include a substance in the positive list or to submit a review application in good time before the expiry date of substances already listed. Among other things, the NoI offers you the opportunity to identify partners for a joint application. We are currently preparing the NoIs for several customers and would be happy to assist you with any questions you may have about the EUPL and its technical implementation using the IUCLID software.

On Tuesday, 16 September 2025, we presented our poster (P27-20) entitled ‘Specific concentration limits (SCL) for carcinogens: time for a revision of the methodology and move to Benchmark Dose Modelling?’. We presented the current proposal for the revised Guidance on setting specific concentration limits for carcinogens and enjoyed interesting discussions and the scientific exchange with all interested parties.

In mid-July 2025, our long-standing employees Karin Heine and Eva Kaiser took over the management of Jan Oltmanns. We have been preparing for this step for a long time to ensure a smooth transition. Mr Oltmanns will remain with the company and take on the role of authorised signatory. On 1 August 2025, Anne Bierwisch, Henrike Berkefeld, Aileen Fiand, Stephanie Kraft and Melanie Macherey also joined the GmbH as shareholders, while Klaus Schneider stepped down from this role after 33 years. With this step, 10 of the 13 employees are now shareholders of FoBiG.

IUCLID 6 Version 9.0.1 has been available since 27 May 2025. This version marks the start of activities relating to the positive lists for drinking water contact materials. Applications relating to the EU positive list for drinking water contact materials pursuant to Section 11 of the Drinking Water Directive (Directive (EU) 2020/2184) must be announced in advance via a ‘notification of intention’. These notifications can be submitted from January 2026. Are you ready for this step? We are happy to assist you with any questions, the preparation of the notification of intention and with the subsequent applications.

On 29 April ECHA published the awaited Chromates Restriction proposal on ECHA’s website.

ECHA proposes an EU-wide ban on Cr(VI) substances, except for the following use categories (UC), provided they comply with defined limit values for worker exposure and environmental emissions:

UC 1 - Formulation of mixtures
UC 2 - Electroplating of plastic substrate
UC 3 - Electroplating on metal substrate
UC 4 - Use of primers and other slurries
UC 5 - Other surface treatments
UC 6 - Functional additives and processing aids

According to the proposal, a restriction under Annex XVII of REACH is expected to take effect in 2028, with a proposed uniform transition period of 18 months.

The proposed restriction will be subject to a public consultation, which is expected to start on 18 June 2025, and which will run for six months. During the public consultation input can be provided from all concerned stakeholders.

We advise all affected actors to analyse the scope and conditions of the restriction proposal and to examine its impact on any of their own activities.

If you need assistance in analysing the impact of the restriction proposal for your business, or in submitting a meaningful comment during the public consultation, or with any other challenges arising from the restriction proposal, FoBiG will be happy to support you.

FoBiG is working on a new project on behalf of the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA). In the EU, major efforts are currently underway to regulate PFAS more to mitigate long-term effects on health and the environment. Currently it is not possible to assess potential exposure to PFAS via indoor air, as no guidance values for indoor air have yet been derived. Furthermore, health-based assessment values (so-called LCI values, LCI: lowest concentration of interest) for the evaluation of possible PFAS emissions from building products are also still lacking. The aim of the project is therefore to identify and evaluate relevant PFAS released into the gas phase of indoor air by means of a literature search.