Research needs for the regulation of hazardous chemicals updated

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Research needs for the regulation of hazardous chemicals updated – The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has updated its report on the main regulatory challenges. The report now provides more detailed information on the areas where scientific research is needed to protect humans and the environment from hazardous chemicals.

June 12, 2024 – More scientific research and method development is needed to further improve the regulation of hazardous chemicals in the EU.

Major challenges

In 2023, ECHA presented its key research needs and aligned them with the areas identified in the EU Chemicals Sustainability Strategy (CSS). This initiative was part of the Agency’s efforts to address key regulatory challenges under the Partnership for the Assessment of Risk of Chemicals (PARC). Further scientific research is needed in the following areas:

Protection from the most harmful chemicals: neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity and endocrine disruption;
Tackling chemical pollution of the environment: bioaccumulation, assessing the sensitivity of non-bee pollinators (NBP) to biocides, expanding biodiversity protection using New Approach
Methodologies (NAMs) and new approaches to reducing chemicals in the environment.Moving away from animal testing: Analogy and NAMs, in vitro/in silico absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) and physiologically-based kinetic (TK) models, fish toxicity and carcinogenicity in the short and long term; And
Improved availability of chemical data: Polymers, micro- and nano-sized materials and new analytical methods for enforcement.

Expanding chemical safety

ECHA Executive Director Dr. Sharon McGuinness on this update: “We have updated this report to provide more detailed information on regulatory topics that require further research.” For example, to address bioaccumulation and further develop toxicokinetic models. We hope that the research community will respond positively to our call.”
“This update is in line with ECHA’s 2024-2028 policy statement, which aims to increase knowledge on the safety of chemicals and promote alternative methods for assessing the hazards and risks of chemicals.”

Background

The Key Areas of Regulatory Challenge report is part of an evolving research and development agenda that aims to support and inspire PARC and the wider research community. The list of research needs is not exhaustive. The report reflects ECHA’s current priorities and future tasks under ECHA’s mandate.

Seven-year EU-wide research and innovation program

PARC is a seven-year EU-wide research and innovation program under Horizon Europe that aims to promote research, share knowledge and improve risk assessment capabilities in chemicals regulation. ECHA’s role in PARC is to ensure that the funded scientific research addresses current regulatory challenges related to chemical risk assessment and adds value to EU regulatory processes.

Research needs for the regulation of hazardous chemicals updated

Major challenges

Expanding chemical safety

Background

Seven-year EU-wide research and innovation program

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