Directorates and units

 

 

Unit C1: Dossier Submission and Dissemination
Role

The Dossier Submission and Dissemination Unit manages for the reception, full or partial processing and dispatch of all submitted dossiers and is responsible for the dissemination of information on substances.

Tasks

The Dossier Submission and Dissemination Unit:

  • Receives and dispatches all dossiers received by ECHA (the submission pipeline)
  • Manages the registration process: invoicing, completeness check and decisions
  • Specifies REACH-IT, or any other future system dealing with dossier submissions and registration; coordinates meetings with stakeholders to collect user input
  • Manages the dissemination process:
    • assesses confidentiality claims
    • publishes information on the ECHA dissemination website and OECD eChemPortal
  • Specifies the dissemination workflow and website, ensuring the link with the OECD eChemPortal
  • Participates in the OECD Steering Group for the development of the eChemPortal and co-manages the project with the OECD
  • Further develops and supports the reporting of registration data
  • Organises and coordinates the preparatory activities for the implementation of the Regulation on export and import of dangerous chemicals.
Unit C2: Substance Identification and Data Sharing
Role

The Substance Identification and Data Sharing Unit manages the pre-registration, data sharing and inquiry processes and the assessment of substance identification for all the Agency's work processes.

Tasks

The Substance Identification and Data Sharing Unit:

  • Interprets the scope of the REACH Regulation (exemptions, polymers, intermediates, nanomaterials, etc.)
  • Manages the data sharing processes: inquiry pre-registration, SIEF development and of data sharing disputes
  • Manages substance identification in support of all ECHA processes, as part of data sharing, evaluation (testing proposal and compliance check), proposals for harmonised classification and labelling and SVHC identification
  • Contributes to the assessment of physical chemical properties
  • Assesses PPORD exemptions
  • Contributes to the assessment of alternative names (Article 24 of CLP Regulation)
  • Develops a structural database to support substance identification
  • Manages the EC inventory and links with other regulatory inventories
  • Contributes to cross-cutting activities on intermediates
  • Contributes to activities related to nanomaterials through ECHA internal task forces, and European Commission and OECD working groups
  • Specifies business processes and workflow systems dealing with substance identification, inquiry, access to data older than 12 years, and data sharing disputes
  • Contributes to the specifications of REACH-IT, or any other future system dealing with these processes.
Unit C3: Computational Assessment
Role

The Computational Assessment Unit develops methods and tools for data collection, data mining, priority setting, non-test strategies and chemical safety assessment and provides expert advice and support for their use within and outside the Agency.

Tasks

The Computational Assessment Unit:

  • Applies and promotes computational methods and predictive techniques in specific tasks under REACH
  • Builds capacity for computational methods by providing training to ECHA staff and the external community (e.g. MS)
  • Contributes to integrated testing strategies, in particular on aspects related to QSAR, grouping and read-across possibilities
  • Participates in the OECD Steering Group for the development of the QSAR Toolbox and co-manages the project with the OECD Secretariat
  • Develops data mining methods and contributes to developing databases for screening information on chemicals (e.g. CASPER)
  • Supports the prioritisation activities for evaluation and authorisation
  • Further specifies and promotes IUCLID for industry and authority use for reporting, processing, as well as exchanging, chemicals related data. Participates in and/or chairs the OECD working groups related to IUCLID
  • Further specifies and promotes the Chemical Safety Assessment and Reporting tool (CHESAR). Initiates and/or contributes to the alignment between the Chesar user manual, the relevant ECHA Guidance documents and the methods for dossier evaluation
  • Supports the development of methods and tools for CSA-related activities (CSA programme): exposure estimation, implementation of downstream users tasks, dossier and substance evaluation, etc.
  • Contributes to awareness raising activities on the duties of downstream users with regard to the reporting and assessing of unsupported uses
  • Communicates and participates in international activities for the above.