June, 18 - Reach: Candidate list updated with four new SVHCs
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has added cadmium chloride, a phthalate and two boron substances to the Candidate List, which now contains 155 substances. Cadmium chloride is a CMR substance and is also identified as being of an equivalent concern based on probable serious effects to human health, specifically due to the effects on kidney and bone. The three further substances are identified as being toxic for reproduction. The four substances now on the list: Cadmium chloride; 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, dihexyl ester, branched and linear; Sodium peroxometaborate; Sodium perborate -  perboric acid, sodium salt.
• For further information : see the ECHA website

June, 17 - Illinois bans plastic microbeads in cosmetics
Illinois (US) signed a bill into law that will ban the sale and production of hand soaps, facial scrubs, and other personal care products containing plastic microbeads, which are viewed as an environmental hazard that could pollute the state's waterways. The manufacturing ban goes into place at the end of 2018, and the sales ban will go into place a year later. "Banning microbeads will help ensure clean waters across Illinois and set an example for our nation …