NEWS
Changes to REACH requirements
The European Commission has revised certain information requirements for registering chemicals under REACH . It advised companies to start preparing as the changes will start to apply in October . Further advice will be issued in 2H and changes will be made accordingly in Iuclid . The main changes concern requirements and specific rules for the adaptation of :
• In vitro and in vivo studies , when further studies are needed based on mutagenicity concerns
• Reproductive toxicity studies , specifying the preferred animal species and administration routes , and clarifying the conditions triggering the need for further studies
• Aquatic toxicity studies , clarifying when long-term studies must be performed instead of short-term studies or in addition to them
• Toxicity studies on terrestrial and sediment organisms , specifying when long-term studies are needed instead of short-term studies and clarifying that long-term testing must investigate both degradation and transformation products
• Degradation and bioaccumulation studies , specifying when further testing is needed , including investigation of both degradation and transformation products There are also additional substance identification information requirements , including :
• Describing the compositions , nanoform or set of similar nanoforms related to information submitted to fulfil information requirements under Annexes VII-X
• Reporting a crystal structure and for reporting compositions for substances with unknown or variable composition , complex reaction products or biological materials
• Clarified requirements for reporting constituents , impurities , additives and analytical information
MAY / JUN 2022
IVL completes acquisition of Oxiteno
Thailand ’ s Indorama Ventures ( IVL ) has completed its acquisition of 100 % of Brazil-based Oxiteno from Ultrapar Participações , following approval by Brazil ’ s Administrative Council for Economic Defence . IVL said that the deal , first announced in August 2021 , makes it “ the leading surfactants producer in the Americas , with additional potential to expand in Europe and Asia ”. Oxiteno brings with it 11 manufacturing plants in Brazil , Uruguay , Mexico and the US , and five R & D centres and commercial offices across the world , including Europe and China . It will become part of IVL ’ s Integrated Oxides & Derivatives business segment , which was formed in 2020 with the acquisition of Huntsman ’ s Spindletop assets . IVL ’ s other segments are in PET and fibres . The transaction has an enterprise value of 6.1x EV / EBITDA based on 2021 results and is earningsaccretive immediately , IVL noted . It is fully financed by free cash flows , including a deferred payment of $ 150 million in April 2024 , working capital , short-term assets and debt . IVL expects to drive savings of $ 100 million through portfolio adjustments , asset optimisation and ‘ operational excellence ’.