ECHA’s 2013 Report Targets Advice To Low-Tonnage REACH Registrants
This article was originally published in The Rose Sheet
Executive Summary
The European Chemicals Agency focuses less on substance identity and hazard endpoints in its REACH Evaluation Progress Report 2013 compared with previous installments, instead providing direction on chemical safety reports and adaptations to standard testing approaches. Recommendations are aimed at low-tonnage chemical manufacturers and importers subject to the 2018 REACH deadline, as well as registrants under previous deadlines facing possible draft decisions and the ongoing need to update their dossiers.
You may also be interested in...
Never Mind IUCLID: Study Identifies Costs As Biggest Obstacle To SMEs’ REACH Registration
An ECHA-commissioned study finds the substantial cost of REACH compliance has SMEs considering portfolio rationalization, reduced production levels and other tactics to circumvent registration. According to ECHA, the study "confirms uncertainties" about SMEs' intentions as the May 31, 2018 phase-in deadline for low-tonnage chemicals draws closer, and the agency is exploring solutions accordingly.
ECHA Advises Read-Across Know-How, Only 'Last Resort' Animal Testing
ECHA's progress report on REACH evaluations conducted in 2015 identifies priority targets in its compliance checks and common shortcomings in registrants' dossiers. With new animal testing under the microscope, the agency provides guidance on using (Q)SARs to fill data gaps, as well as insight into its approach to assessing read-across, to assist companies readying for the May 31, 2018 registration deadline.
ECHA Selectively Sharing Data To Promote Non-Animal Chemical Assessments
The European Chemicals Agency has provided non-confidential REACH data to an international industry consortium to support development of AMBIT software, which can assist companies in filling safety data gaps (without animal testing) via chemical grouping and quantitative structure-activity relationships.