The goal of ECHA’s Integrated Regulatory Strategy is to accelerate data generation, the identification of categories of potentially dangerous compounds, and regulatory action. In doing so, the Commission establishes a harmonized approach to chemical risk management which is effective and efficient by integrating various regulation processes in one uniform way. The strategy also encourages collaboration between ECHA, Member States, and the European Commission. 

This work aims at clarifying which registered substances are a high priority for regulatory risk management or data generation and which are currently a low priority for further regulatory action.

It has become increasingly quicker to identify substances for which regulatory risk management may be necessary by evaluating chemicals in groups. EU authorities started evaluating 2000 substances in 61 groups in 2022.

Continued progress in the identification of substances of concern is reported by ECHA’s 5th Annual Report on its Integrated Regulatory Strategy.

In 2022, over 2,000 substances were categorized based on their structural similarity and subjected to regulatory needs assessment. Out of these, approximately 500 substances were identified by ECHA as requiring further risk management actions. However, additional data gathering is necessary to verify the potential risks associated with most of them. On the other hand, over 750 substances evaluated in 2022 did not require any additional risk management measures.

Around 5,000 substances have been assessed since the beginning of ECHA’s grouping approach in 2019 and an estimated 1,400 are likely to require further risk management measures. These evaluations are used to inform the European Commission’s restriction roadmap and have helped to advance the goals of the EU’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and the EU’s Green Deal by identifying hundreds of substances for which a harmonized classification may be required.

We will keep developing our approach towards fast-tracking action to manage risks with the most dangerous chemicals, and we intend to bring together stakeholders for discussions on that approach by the year’s end of 2023 or by the start of 2024.

Reference: https://echa.europa.eu/-/integrated-regulatory-strategy-annual-report