ECHA Targets Review of All SVHCs by 2027

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) February 4 said that it is aims – by 2027 – to finish work on all REACH registered substances of very high concern (SVHCs). This goal applies regardless of whether the substances are high priority for regulatory risk management, high priority for data generation, or low priority for attention.

It highlighted this target in its report (bit.ly/3q514U1) on the progress of its SVHC work as set in a 2013 roadmap (PSL, 2/11/13). Met milestones included:

• All qualifying known SVHCs were identified by 2017.

 

• Since 2014, member states have been using the RMOA (regulatory management option analysis) approach to assess substances and decide regulatory approaches.

 

• ECHA has set up a "grouping" process for chemically related substances to speed up assessment and decisions.

 

• There has been progress on petroleum and coal substances, which are deemed challenges "because of their very complex and variable compositions."

 

• Work has led to scientific advice on endocrine disrupting substances and chemicals deemed to be PBTs (persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic).

 

• ECHA has been using PACT (public activities coordination tool) to aid transparency and predictability.

On why substances have been included, ECHA explained:

"Relevant substances are those that have been registered for uses within the scope of authorisation under REACH. This definition gives priority to substances that are used by consumers and professionals or that have non-intermediate industrial uses in the EU. To discourage regrettable substitution, other types of substances (nonregistered or registered as intermediates only) that were structurally similar to prioritised substances could also be considered."