To speed up identifying and managing the risks of hazardous chemicals, ECHA is screening structurally similar substances in groups. By Last year 2019, the Agency together with national authorities reviewed around 220 high-volume substances of which 56 % needed more hazard data.

The aim was started to speed up the identification of hazardous substances and get their risks controlled more quickly.

ECHA stated that in 2019, together with Member States, the Agency reviewed around 220 substances registered above 100 tonnes per year and allocated them to different pools of the chemical universe for regulatory action. For 56 % of them, more data was needed to clarify the need for further risk management. For 22 % of the substances, no further action was proposed and 7 % were considered as high priority for EU regulatory risk management.

Now, the number of substances registered above 100 tonnes and not yet assigned to a pool in the chemical universe has reduced to around 2 400. The grouping approach also enabled ECHA to scrutinise more than 300 low-production volume substances in 2019.

Mapping the chemical universe and assigning substances for further action is a key part of the Integrated Regulatory Strategy. The aim is to have full clarity for all registered substances by 2027.

Reference: https://echa.europa.eu/-/grouping-of-chemicals-speeds-up-regulatory-action