On April 25, 2017 the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published the third annual report on the “Roadmap for SVHC identification and implementation of REACH risk management measures.” In its press release, ECHA stated that “progress is on track” for “having all relevant currently known substances of very high concern [(SVHCs)] on the Candidate List” by 2020. However, ECHA also acknowledged that identifying SVHCs “is becoming more and more difficult because of the lack of information on their hazards and on how they are used.” Currently, there are 540 substances for which ECHA is requesting more information. ECHA’s executive director, Geert Dancet, stressed that “the compliance of the data provided by companies has got to improve” in order for the agency to do its work.
To speed up the process of identifying SVHCs, ECHA and EU Member States are increasingly looking at groups of substances that are structurally similar. This allows for “conclusions to be drawn on a larger number of substances at the same time,” ECHA explained. Additionally, this approach “helps industry to avoid substituting substances of concern with substances that have similar properties,” the report states.
Read more
ECHA (April 25, 2017). “All known substances of very high concern being tackled.”
Clelia Oziel (April 25, 2017). “2020 SVHC candidate list target on track, Echa says.” Chemical Watch
Robert Hodgson (April 25, 2017). “ECHA concerned over lack of data on risky chemicals.” ENDS Europe
International Chemical Secretariat (January 26, 2017). “The EU’s environmental ministers express concerns about slow moving REACH.”
International Chemical Secretariat (April 28, 2017). “ECHA’s latest PR gives a misleading impression about the progress of REACH.”
Reference
ECHA (April 25, 2017). “Progressing together to identify substances of concern: Roadmap for SVHC identification and implementation of REACH risk management measures – Annual report.” (pdf)
