Updated Guidance on Information Requirements and Chemical Safety Assessment for nanomaterials

ECHA/NA/12/16
News alert
Media enquiries: ECHA Press

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published three new appendices, updating Chapters R.7a, R.7b and R.7c of the Guidance on Information Requirements and Chemical Safety Assessment (IR & CSA). These three new appendices are recommendations for registering nanomaterials.

Helsinki, 30 April 2012 - The Commission services initiated REACH Implementation Projects on Nanomaterials (RIP-oNs) in 2009 in order to evaluate the applicability of the existing guidance to nanomaterials and, if needed, develop tailored advice. The project relevant to information requirements under REACH (RIP-oN2) proposed guidance updates regarding information requirements on aspects such as relevance to nanomaterials and the adequacy of test methods.

As previously announced by ECHA, a draft revision of the guidance document was prepared based on the outcome of the RIP-oN2 final report. The update was undertaken via a fast-track procedure. The use of this procedure was justified on the basis that the final RIP-oN2 report had already been the subject of consultation with relevant stakeholders before being handed over to ECHA. Its content could therefore be considered as reflecting a consensus. Furthermore, the update needed to be made urgently in order to allow publication of the guidance as soon as possible and well in advance of the next REACH registration deadline, i.e. 30 May 2013.

The published guidance update provides tailored advice to registrants when preparing registrations for substances in the nanoform.