As governments around the world do more to restrict hazardous chemicals in the interest of the environment and their population, more and more regulations are expected to follow. From the Substances of Concern in Products (SCIP) database to the new European Union (EU) Conflict Minerals Regulation, 2021 will be full of regulatory changes for companies across the globe.
Failing to meet these new regulations could mean losing access to key product markets, and not preparing soon enough could result in supply chain delays.
Don’t be caught off-guard with these changes. Due diligence will be necessary to find hazardous substances and report them appropriately. You can prepare your company now for compliance in 2021 and find the support you need for a successful year.
Here are the top five 2021 regulatory changes and compliance updates you should know about and be ready for.
SCIP Database
The SCIP database is a new requirement from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) that went into effect on January 5, 2021.
While chemicals reporting has been required in REACH since 2007, this new SCIP database will require additional information on hazardous substances and will provide a consistent reporting format across the EU.
To protect your access to the EU market, you will need to report within the SCIP database. Prepare now with our SCIP Training or by contacting us at [email protected] with your questions.
EU Conflict Minerals Regulation
The new EU Conflict Minerals Regulation went into force on January 1, 2021. It requires approximately 600 to 1,000 companies to meet new due diligence standards regarding conflict minerals.
If you fall under the scope of this new legislation, you will need to pro-actively investigate your supply chain to make sure minerals are responsible sourced. For support with the new EU Conflict Minerals Regulation, contact our conflict minerals experts at [email protected].
Brexit and UK REACH
After years of back and forth, Brexit will finally go into full effect in 2021. This means that manufacturers in Britain and importers to Britain who were previously under the purview of REACH will need to comply with the new UK REACH framework.
While UK REACH is expected to align with much of REACH, it is a completely different system and there is expected to be some divergence in the future. This means additional effort and cost for companies wishing to retain access to both the EU and the UK markets.
For support in preparing for and complying with UK REACH, contact our REACH experts at [email protected].
IMDS REC 019 Deactivation
The International Material Data System (IMDS) Recommendation 019 (REC 019) will be deactivated in the first quarter of 2021.
IMDS REC 019 was initially put into place to ease the burden of reporting for electronics suppliers. However, in 2019 the IMDS Steering Committee voted to deactivate REC 019 because materials were not being accurately reported.
To prepare for this deactivation, you will need to find any REC 019 MDSs in your IMDS library so you can obtain new IMDS component data from the manufacturer. For more support, contact our IMDS experts at [email protected].
IMDS 13.0 Release
The release of IMDS 13.0 is planned for March of 2021. This software update will come with changes intended to increase reporting transparency and ease the reporting burden.
IMDS 13.0 updates include additional fields to assist SCIP database reporting, a wizard for metal materials, increased precision for portions, and more.
Contact our IMDS experts at [email protected] to learn more. You can also learn more about using IMDS in our online IMDS trainings.
Don’t find your company unprepared for the 2021 regulatory changes and compliance updates. Preparing now will help you have a seamless transition into a new year of compliance, making sure your products aren’t held up because of supply chain or reporting issues.
Tetra Tech’s compliance team is here to support you, from SCIP and IMDS training, to turnkey compliance programs and reporting management services. Contact us today and let us know how we can help you.
