ECHA’s future strategic plan: making the best use of information on chemicals in Europe

ECHA/NR/18/69

The Management Board adopted ECHA’s Multi-Annual Strategy for 2019-2023. The strategy defines ECHA’s priorities and how the Agency is going to implement them for this time period. It outlines the contribution to the protection of human health and environment in a new era for European and international chemicals management.

Helsinki, 14 December 2018 – ECHA’s current multi-annual work programme ends in 2018, the same year which marked the third registration deadline under REACH. ECHA has engaged in an open and collaborative process with its partners and stakeholders to define its future strategy, which resulted in its adoption during the December Management Board meeting. The new strategy also contains ECHA’s new mission and vision.

ECHA’s Mission: We, together with our partners, work for the safe use of chemicals.

ECHA’s Vision: To be the centre of knowledge on the sustainable management of chemicals, serving a wide range of EU policies and global initiatives, for the benefit of citizens and the environment.

Sharon McGuinness, the Chair of the Management Board: “This strategy goes a long way in preparing ECHA for the next five years but also for the long-term future – with many challenges ahead such as the new Financial Framework of the EU and the UK withdrawal from the Union. We are entering a period where ECHA will play a key role in implementing the recommendations of the Commission’s REACH Refit evaluation, as well as take on new tasks. It is very important to have clarity on our mission and have the right priorities in place, so that all our stakeholders can rely on them.”

The new strategy identifies three strategic priorities:

1. Identification and risk management of substances of concern.
2. Safe and sustainable use of chemicals by industry.
3. Sustainable management of chemicals through the implementation of EU legislation.

Bjorn Hansen, ECHA’s Executive Director: “Our new strategic priorities lead us to making the best use of our unique source of information on chemicals in Europe and to focus our efforts where we can provide the most impact. This also means an increased focus on ensuring compliance with EU chemicals legislation. We have the right competences to respond to challenges. We aim to become more efficient in the next five years, which will also be supported by the new organisational set-up of ECHA, to be effective from January onwards.”