Four key aims for ECHA over the next year
Troy Media – by Andrew Cox
European chemical industry met in Helsinki to discuss European chemical industry issues
Several hundred people from around the world gathered on May 23rd in Finland at the Helsinki Convention Centre for the Seventh European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Stakeholders’ Day. This event preceded the two-day Helsinki Chemicals Forum.
The goal of the Stakeholders’ Day was to discuss progress in the development of REACH – the European legislation covering the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances. The participants included key staff from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA); a wide range of managers and other representatives from the chemicals sector, trade bodies, consumer groups and other NGOs, lawyers, software vendors, consultants – plus members of the international media. In addition, over 300 people also followed the meeting around the world, as the sessions were streamed live on the web.
Industry feedback
ECHA was formed in 2008 to implement the REACH directive – and these Stakeholders’ Days have been an important method of the agency receiving feedback from industry and other groups involved in the chemical registration and authorisation procedures plus other related issues.
In opening the meeting, Geert Dancet, ECHA’s Executive Director commented that: “REACH aspires to protect people and the environment and at this year’s Stakeholders’ Day we are really getting to grips with the core of this aim: helping companies to provide quality data on their chemicals so that they can be used safely; and beginning the authorisation process to limit and ultimately phase out the most hazardous chemicals in Europe today.”
Dancet outlined the four key aims for ECHA over the next year:
1) to improve the quality of data submitted by all registrants in their chemical dossiers;
2) use data intelligently for better chemical management;
3) ECHA will aim to manage resources efficiently and effectively;
4) ECHA will also be addressing new scientific challenges.
Dancet added that further complexity has been created by the recent adoption of key European regulations: Biocidal Products Regulations and the Prior Informed Consent Regulations. ECHA will be publishing new guidelines/updates on these and other issues during 2012.
REACH’s deadlines in 2013 and 2018 include identifying all the Substances of Very High Concern (SVACs) and selecting the most suitable risk management option for each of these by 2020.
An important aim of REACH is to encourage and in certain cases to ensure that SVACs are replaced with safer chemicals. This authorisation process is complex and time-consuming – with member states of the European Union submitting lists of candidate chemicals (usually twice a year). Around 100 substances will be classified as SVACs by the end of 2012: these include substances which are Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic (PBT).or Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or Toxic to Reproduction.
The process of assessing the costs and benefits of replacing SVACs with safer alternatives was discussed during an afternoon session of the Stakeholders’ Day.
ChemSec provided an excellent presentation which contained an outline of a new web-based system it has been developing to provide opportunities for the substitution of SVACs.
At a side meeting, ECHA spokespersons commented on nanomaterials. REACH legislation has little reference to nanomaterials. However, all chemicals (including those involving nanomaterials) that fall under the remit of REACH have to be registered and have dossiers. ECHA are currently having a dialogue with the European Commission on future regulations governing nanomaterials. It is envisaged that in the near-future more specific identifications and information on nanomaterials (such as their characteristics and safety issues) will be incorporated into the REACH process.
Another key issue that was discussed throughout the day was the content of chemical dossiers. Recent sampling of dossiers that have been submitted found that many had inadequate technical information. So in order to improve the quality and content of the dossiers ECHA has been holding outreach activities with industrial groups and holding regular webinars. Due to the large volume of dossiers, technical compliance checks by ECHA staff usually take place months or even years after dossiers have been submitted. This timescale for compliance checking can allow companies submitting dossiers further time to revise the technical material if they feel it needs to be improved.
ECHA have also produced a sample Chemical Safety Report (CSR) that it has developed to support companies in complying with REACH obligations – with advice on how to avoid many of the common deficiencies that have been identified.
Challenges to business
The Stakeholders’ Day also examined some of the challenges that REACH has created for SME companies operating in the chemical sector. A presentation by a medium-sized French ester manufacturer (Stearinerie Dubois) highlighted the technical challenges and the substantial costs involved in the registration process and dossier compilation.
A final key point to mention was the challenge faced by ECHA in remaining unbiased and balanced in its views on scientific issues. Speakers from ECHA stressed that they have introduced measures to ensure full disclosure of interests by its key advisers and board members. It was stressed that ECHA has to maintain a high level of credibility in its future decision-making process. Many stakeholders will be monitoring the work and decisions by the agency to see if his goal is achieved.
For further information about the progress of the REACH registration process go to: http://echa.europa.eu/reach-2012
A recording of the Stakeholders’ Day web stream will be published on the ECHA website within one week after the event.
Andrew Cox is an energy and environmental consultant – trading as Energy Intelligence & Marketing Research – based in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. He will be attending the forum for Troy Media.