ECHA's sixth report on its Integrated Regulatory Strategy (IRS)

ECHA's integrated regulatory strategy achieves its goal: high-volume chemicals screened

On 24 October 2024, ECHA published the sixth report on its Integrated Regulatory Strategy (IRS) covering the five-year period 2019-2023, which aimed to accelerate data generation, identification of groups of substances of concern and regulatory actions.

The main objective of the strategy has been achieved: to clarify which REACH registered substances have a high priority for risk management or the generation of additional scientific data for toxicological purposes, and which currently do not require further regulatory action.

By the end of 2024, substances registered by the end of 2018 in volumes above 100 tonnes per year and 20% of substances registered in volumes below 100 tonnes/year will be examined, for a total of approximately 6,000 substances.

About 60% of all substances currently assessed do not require further action. About 30% (1,900 substances) will be assessed as to whether regulatory action is needed (in particular: harmonised classification or REACH restrictions).

Some groups, including bisphenols, orthophthalates, flame retardants, hydrocarbyl siloxanes and hydrocarbylphenols, have been added to the ECHA Restrictions Roadmap.

This strategy encouraged collaboration between ECHA, Member State authorities and the European Commission.

The IRS planned for 2024-2028 will continue to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks posed by hazardous chemicals. ECHA, the European Commission and Member State authorities will rapidly focus on the necessary risk management measures for substances identified as being of concern.

The future priority of the authorities will focus, for example, on the principle of “one substance, one assessment ”, thus favouring a more specific analysis of the impact of the substances under consideration.

ECHA will integrate its new tasks into this approach in the coming years.

Source: ECHA ( 1 and 2 )