News
News
The authorisation application process is working
ECHA/PR/15/03
Over 100 participants representing industry, NGOs, Member States and the European Union's authorities have come to ECHA to draw lessons from the concluded applications for authorisation. The event is also webstreamed.
Helsinki, 10 February 2015 – ECHA's committees have so far adopted 63 opinions on applications for authorisation and the European Commission has granted the first authorisations to applicants.
"Authorisation application was the last of the REACH processes to be implemented since the REACH Regulation entered into operation in 2008. The process now works well and is fair and transparent. The opinions of ECHA's two scientific Committees are based on evidence provided by the applicants and comments received during the public consultation. We have also heard and acted on the civil society's call to make the process even more transparent," says Geert Dancet, ECHA's Executive Director in his opening speech of the conference.
The good functioning of the authorisation application process is of key importance to all interested parties in the REACH regulation. It ensures predictability for industry to obtain the application based on a solid business case that minimises risk while encouraging substances of very high concern to be substituted with safer alternatives in the shorter or longer term. For some substances listed in the Authorisation List, there have not been any applications received and the sunset date has been reached, meaning that they can no longer be used in the EU. Companies who have applied for authorisation have often identified new risk management measures to reduce risks of SVHCs to workers and the environment.
ECHA will continue to improve the efficiency of the application process and welcomes feedback from all sides. The Agency expects a peak in applications later this year as the latest application date for chromates in early 2016 approaches.