
Highlights from the General Assembly Meeting
The 2022 General Assembly meeting which took place virtually on May 5th discussed general issues related to the smooth running of the consortium as well as possible threats emanating from ECHA/the Commission by way of potential Restrictions/Authorisation related to the use of several Mn substances within the EU amongst other things.
The meeting saw the following decisions taken
The GA agreed a on methodology to redistribute income from Non-EU REACH data sales. MARA’s assets in the form of study reports are being sold for the purposes of Non-EU regulatory compliance in the hope of sharing knowledge on the toxicity profile of Mn-based substances in view of a worldwide harmonising the classification. The GA agreed that if the entire industry use the same data – then industry will settle for the same classification.
MARA’s Office: The GA discussed the need of an actual office versus a virtual office from a financial standpoint. Considering that work was still effective during the pandemic lockdown, it was clear that a virtual office will reduce cost without affecting the quality of work carried out by the Consortium. To this end, the GA approved for MARA to seek advice from the French authorities on the possibility of a Not-for-profit organisation to be domicile virtually.
Harmonised Categorization of Slags across the EU: The GA approved a way to fund this special project. The project which considers the present regulatory constraints on the use or disposal of slags across the EU to be non-harmonised is aimed at creating a level playing field guided by a harmonised regulatory standpoint for all players within the EU. The project intends to use a robust socio-economic analysis and lobbying of the authorities to achieve its goes.

ACUTE TOXICITY TO RAINBOW TROUT/ Mn metal (Manganese metal)/ OECD 203 / GLP
Introduction. A study was performed to assess the acute toxicity of the test item to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The method followed that described in the OECD Guidelines for Testing of Chemicals (1992) No 203, "Fish, Acute Toxicity Test", referenced as Method C1 of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 440/2008.
Results. The 96-Hour LC50 based on nominal test concentrations was greater than 100% v/v saturated solution and correspondingly the No Observed Effect Concentration was 100% v/v saturated solution.
Analysis of the test preparations at 0, 24 and 96 hours showed measured concentrations to range from 3.05 to 4.44 mg/l.
Given that no decline in measured concentration was observed over the test period, the results are based on the mean measured test concentration as a test item only. This was calculated to be 3.6 mg/l.
The 96-Hour LC50 based on mean measured test concentrations was greater than 3.6 mg/l and correspondingly the No Observed Effect Concentration was 3.6 mg/l.
This study showed that there were no toxic effects at saturation.
To obtain the full study, please contact: reach@manganese.org