ECHA Weekly - 24 April 2024

REACH

Conclusions published: workshop on ECHA's Integrated Regulatory Strategy

In March 2024, we organised a workshop for the EEA countries’ authorities, the European Commission and the key stakeholders to discuss the implementation of ECHA’s Integrated Regulatory Strategy.

The main focus was on how to make authorities’ risk management of substances, or substance groups, more impactful while increasing transparency and predictability. Conclusions of the workshop are now available on the workshop's web page.

Commission decisions on applications for authorisation

The European Commission has granted a total of three authorisations for four uses of Sodium dichromate and five uses of Chromium trioxide.

Find the substances and all details on the Commission website.

Assessment of regulatory needs reports published

Reports for the following substance groups are now available on our website:

• Aliphatic esters from ≥C10 alcohols
• Aliphatic esters from branched alcohols
• Alkyl phosphites

If you have questions or feedback related to the assessment work, you can send them to us using this webform.

Open positions

Product manager

We are looking for a product manager to lead the development of ECHA's fit-for-purpose IT products. 
 
Our ideal candidate is solution-oriented and has excellent project management skills. If you also have knowledge in our regulatory processes and IT tools, or the application of regulatory science in IT tools in other settings, check our vacancy notice and apply until noon 15 May 2024.

Webinars

OECD QSAR Assessment Framework in REACH dossier evaluation: Q&A available

Did you miss our webinar that took a deeper look into incorporation of the OECD QSAR Assessment Framework into our evaluation of (Q)SAR studies in REACH registrations?

You can now watch the recording and find answers to all the questions submitted to our experts on our website.

Drinking Water Directive

Cleaner drinking water to all

The European Commission has published six new legal acts under the Drinking Water Directive. These set out the framework for minimum hygiene requirements for materials and for the certification of products that come in contact with our drinking water.

The European positive lists of allowed substances have now been published. We will maintain the lists together with our stakeholders, national authorities and the Commission.

Board of Appeal

New Board of Appeal decision in a substance evaluation case

Case A-010-2022 concerns an appeal against a request for an amphibian metamorphosis assay (AMA) in substance evaluation. The Board of Appeal found that ECHA was entitled to ask for further information, as the substance poses a potential risk concerning environmental endocrine disruption that needs to be clarified and which may affect risk management measures.
 
The appellant provided new information showing that the AMA, designed following ECHA’s decision, is likely not to produce meaningful information in this case. This new information was not rebutted. The decision was therefore annulled and the case was remitted to ECHA for further action.  

EU Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON)

Last chance to submit your study topic

Are you aware of information gaps for nanomaterials? The EUON is looking for topics for upcoming studies.

If you have an idea, submit your proposal by 30 April 2024.

Others

Commission defines principles on limiting most harmful chemicals to essential uses

The European Commission has adopted guiding criteria and principles for what would constitute ‘essential uses' of the most harmful chemicals.

With this concept, the Commission aims for achieve higher regulatory efficiency and predictability for authorities, investors and industry for a faster phase-out of the most harmful substances in non-essential uses.

Reminder: consultation on guidelines on the benefit-risk assessment of the presence of phthalates in certain medical devices

The European Commission and its Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER) seek feedback on the preliminary update of the SCHEER guidelines.

Send your comments until 28 April 2024.