Release Notes for December 14, 2023
Docu-reader
A new feature that will import data from a Safety Data Sheet for formulated (chemical-containing) products is now available. To utilize Docu-Reader, the product registration must:
Be Formulated or contains Chemicals; and
Has a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) available
The import process will use the SDS you provide to extract information from Section 3, 9 and 12 of the Safety Data Sheet.
When starting a registration, you may elect to use the SDS import (Docu-Reader) process, or continue in the traditional manner by entering data.
When creating a registration using Docu-Reader, the first two areas of data entry remain the same.
The next area will allow you to upload the SDS and the data will then import when you select “continue”. This may take a few moments, so be sure to refrain from refreshing your screen.
The Physical and Chemical Data imports from Section 9 of the SDS are provided. WERCSmart will display the values from the document, and you may need to slightly adjust the entry before proceeding. For example, if the SDS had a range, you may either enter the value of the range’s highest point or choose the appropriate drop-down range from the options.
Ingredients listed in Section 3 of the Safety Data Sheet will be imported as well. Please be aware that only hazardous chemicals are required to be listed on the SDS in Section 3 so the full formula details may not be available in the SDS. You will need to further revise the entry to provide the required details.
Ingredient data imported from the SDS is signified via an asterisk (*).
Information from the SDS, Section 14, will also be imported.
You may update any imported data, but keep in mind that data not matching the SDS you provide with a registration will likely lead to a suspension by our Hazard Review Professionals, resulting in delays.
Webinar on Demand
A new menu option is available in WERCSmart, providing a Webinar On Demand for the WERCSmart program and registration process.
A link will bring you to UL Solutions Customer Training Website. The enrollment key is IntroWERCSmart and you’ll be required to establish a Training Website login.
As you add access to your WERCSmart account to other team members in your organization, this is a helpful summary to provide for a better understanding of WERCSmart’s purpose and registration process.
My Account – Order History for Subscription and Transactions
When viewing either order history, the table is now able to be sorted either in ascending or descending order for the following columns:
Submission Date
Payment Received Date
Reports – Products with Generics or 3rd Party Formulas
We’ve added a new report to WERCSmart. The report is:
Products Containing Generic Ingredients and/or 3rd-Party Ingredients
Due to recipients/retailers having various chemical programs in place, the use of generic ingredients (Flavor, Fragrance) greatly impacts the chemical policy results for registrations. By minimizing the use of generic ingredients and using more detailed 3rd-Party ingredients, this provides more accurate scoring in PurView. The report output will provide product registration information from your account if the product contains generic ingredients and/or 3rd-Party ingredients. If a registration in your account has neither of these elements, it will not be shown on the report.
Product Registration - Region Sold
Clarification is now available on the impact of selecting the proper region (Canada and/or U.S.) for the registration.
Currently, the region selection simply asks you to indicate where the product may be sold.
The revision provides clarity as to the retailer location.
There is also more information available when using the informational icon (I):
The selection of the region where your retailer will be selling your product impacts the data collection within the registration. United States and Canada have varying regulations with regard to VOC, Waste, as well as Safety Data Sheet requirements. Be sure to select the appropriate region for the retailers who will be receiving your product’s assessment/classification information.
This revision will not impact existing registrations and will not cause auto-recertification, as the data itself has not been revised in any manner.
Product Registration – Private Label
Clarification is also available regarding the Private Label indicator for a registration.
The current Private Label / Retailer’s Own Brand indicator may cause confusion as each retailer may refer to their own brand products using varying definitions or phrases.
The new data element is:
The informational hover provides even further details:
The product may be sold as a Store Brand, or Generic product. The manufactured product will have specific retailer gbranding applied for sale to the consumer, such as a specific retailer’s logo or retailer’s brand, applied at the time of sale. The product manufacturer will have an agreement with the retailer to create the product and will apply the proper retail labelling and other information on behalf of the retailer.
This revision will not impact existing registrations and will not cause auto-recertification, as the data itself has not been revised in any manner.
Product Registration – Volatile Organic Compounds
To reduce suspensions for VOC, we’ve also provided more clarity on the data requirements. We’ve added an informational option that will provide further guidance on the data entry required.
When registering the product data, the VOC values should be for the product “when used”. For concentrated products, the VOC would be the value after dilution of the product, when the consumer is using the product.
This revision will not impact existing registrations and will not cause auto-recertification, as the data itself has not been revised in any manner.