ECHA Summary of Work Programme 2011 -

A summary of key objectives for 2011.

ECHA key objectives:

First, the Agency needs to publish online the information from REACH registrations and CLP notifi cations. It is an enormous task to make scientifi c information as accessible as possible.
Second, ECHA will evaluate the quality of the data of at least 5% of the submitted REACH dossiers and all proposals for testing substances on animals.
Third, ECHA will provide two important reports to the European Commission: one on the operation of the REACH regulation which will contain proposals for improving its workability and a second on the status of implementation and use of non-animal test methods and testing strategies.
Fourth, is to address chemicals of concern through the authorisation process. As a follow up of the policy initiative of the European Commission, ECHA expects a larger number of Substances of Very High Concern to be added to the candidate and authorisation lists this year.

Manufacturers and importers of substances key objectives:

First, submit a registration dossier. Registrants of the same substance must share their data to avoid unnecessary animal testing. The Agency makes the non-confi dential information publicly available.
Second, on authorization, to ensure the appropriate control of the most hazardous substances, companies will increasingly need to get prior authorisation for their use.
Third, adoption of new proposals for restrictions will be made for the European Commission and, together with new proposals from Member States, submitted to the Risk Assessment Committee. They have to be adopted by the companies.
Fourth, companies have to evaluate their chemicals and communicate hazards on the package label. They also have to submit a notifi cation of the classification to ECHA for the public inventory.

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