In a press release published on April 17, 2018, European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced the publication of its annual report on implementing the SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) Roadmap.
Substances of concern have been scrutinized “by systematically screening the information available in the REACH registration dossiers and in other databases,” increasingly “looking at groups of substances with similar hazardous properties” instead of examining substances one-by-one, ECHA said. The agency expects that this group-wise approach “will enhance the coherence of regulatory action of similar substances and help to avoid regrettable substitution,” and it “will also allow well-informed decisions to be made on a higher number of substances in a shorter period of time.”
Currently, ECHA is working on 750 substances “to clarify their priority for further information generation and for further regulatory action,” and the report provides further information on these substances. In addition, the Annex offers “an analysis of the regulatory status of all currently known SVHCs.”
Read more
ECHA (April 17, 2018). “Authorities to focus on identifying substances of potential concern.”
Chemical Watch (April 19, 2018). “ECHA: Improvements needed in group screening approach.”
References
ECHA (April 2018). “Authorities to focus on substances of potential concern. Roadmap for SVHC identification and implementation of REACH risk management measures – Annual Report.” (pdf)
ECHA (April 2018). “Appendix 1. Analysis of all relevant currently known substances of very high concern (SVHCs).” (pdf)
