Evaluation

Assessing read-across – how ECHA does it

Read-across is the most commonly used alternative to testing chemicals on animals under REACH. The Read-Across Assessment Framework (RAAF) is being produced by ECHA to make sure that our experts evaluate read-across cases consistently.

Press release | Read-across Assessment Framework

Reminder: Call for evidence for use of phthalates DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP in articles

ECHA and the Danish Environmental Protection Agency have launched a call for evidence to identify the current uses of the four phthalates in articles, the phthalate content and migration rates, as well as other relevant information for the preparation of an Annex XV restriction dossier.

The call is to support their joint work to investigate the need for a restriction, according to Article 69(2), on the placing on the market of articles containing the four phthalates. Interested parties are invited to respond by 24 June 2015. This call for evidence does not replace the public consultation organised by ECHA at the start of any restriction process (potentially March to September 2016 if a restriction proposal is submitted).

In addition, a survey to collect up-to-date information on compliance control costs for the four phthalates is running until 5 June 2015. Data on the industry practices to ensure compliance with REACH restrictions on substances in articles will be collected and the expected compliance control costs will be assessed.

Calls for comments and evidence | Survey of compliance control and costs of possible restriction on four classified phthalates

We would like to visit SMEs

To promote our experts' understanding of companies' business needs in complying with the EU chemicals legislation, ECHA staff will be visiting SMEs in EU countries. We are now looking for SMEs willing to volunteer for this staff training programme and to host one of our colleagues for two days in autumn 2015.

If you are interested, please contact ECHA: sme-ambassador@echa.europa.eu.

SME pages on ECHA's website

The minutes of the RAC-32/SEAC-26 plenary meetings are published

The minutes of the Risk Assessment Committee's and the Socio-economic Analysis Committee's plenary meetings held in March 2015 are now available on ECHA's web site.

RAC-32 minutes | SEAC-26 minutes

Co-opted members of RAC and SEAC:  call for expression of interests

- Experts in occupational hygiene and chemical exposure assessment
- Experts in socio-economic analysis

(Deadline: 4 June 2015, 12:00pm)

The Agency's Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) and the Committee for Socio-economic Analysis (SEAC) are tasked to prepare and adopt opinions on applications for authorisations as set out in Title VII of the REACH Regulation.

The Agency foresees a peak workload on evaluating applications for authorisation from late 2015 through to 2016. It is therefore opening a call for co-opted members for RAC and SEAC. Applicants should express their interest on ECHA's website by 4 June 2015.

Call for expressions of interest | News alert

Are you negotiating for data for your REACH registration? Check out our new web page and fact sheet

ECHA has published a new web page giving practical advice for your data-sharing negotiations. The page guides you through the different steps for a successful negotiation and gives you tips on what to do if you struggle to advance your negotiations.

The information is particularly helpful for small and medium-sized companies who might not yet be well aware of their rights and obligations.

A new factsheet on Typical cost elements for data-sharing negotiations gives an overview of different types of costs that you can come across during the data-sharing negotiations, allowing you to better assess whether your data sharing is fair, transparent and non-discriminatory.

REACH requires companies registering the same substance to share data to avoid unnecessary testing on animals, and to reduce costs. This is why registrants have to work together to find an agreement on how to share the information and its costs. Data sharing is not designed to generate profit for the data owner, but to share the actual costs between all registrants who need the data.

Practical advice for data sharing negotiations | Factsheet

OECD QSAR Toolbox webinar

17 June 2015, 11:00-13:00 Helsinki (EEST, GMT +3)

The webinar will provide an introduction to the OECD QSAR Toolbox and its functionalities. Two examples will cover endpoints which will be relevant for the REACH registration deadline in 2018 (e.g. skin sensitisation, aquatic toxicity). The Toolbox is the most comprehensive, widely recognised and freely available platform for data gap filling in regulatory hazard assessment, while avoiding tests. It is used for grouping chemicals into categories, identifying and filling (eco-)toxicological data gaps for the hazard assessment of chemicals.

Register | OECD QSAR Toolbox

Seminar on Applications for Authorisation in June

ECHA is organising a seminar in collaboration with Cefic and Eurometaux to improve future applicants' knowledge of the authorisation application procedure. The main topics to be covered include the content requirements for applications, the public consultation on possible alternatives, the analysis of alternatives and socio-economic analysis, as well as the formats, manuals and tools for the application submission.

Register | Seminar on Applications for Authorisation