The European Commission has presented a new legislative package aimed at simplifying and accelerating the evaluation of chemicals within the EU. This reform, known as the “one substance, one assessment” approach, is part of the broader Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and is designed to enhance efficiency, consistency, and transparency in how chemical risks are assessed.
The initiative involves three new legislative proposals that intend to harmonize chemical assessments across various sectors, including food, toys, medical devices, pesticides, and biocides. By doing so, the Commission seeks to streamline processes, reduce duplication of work, and enable quicker responses when chemical risks are identified.
Key elements of the reform
One of the central features of this package is the reorganisation of responsibilities among four key EU agencies: the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Environment Agency (EEA), and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). These agencies will work more closely together, aligning their methods, schedules, and priorities to ensure that information gathered under one regulation can be efficiently used under others.
A Common Data Platform will be created, giving stakeholders, from regulators to citizens, a centralised access point for data on chemical substances. This platform will bring together existing tools such as IPCHEM, PACT, and EUCLEF, while also incorporating new resources such as databases on environmental presence and a repository of reference values.
Another important aspect is the development of a framework to monitor emerging chemical risks. This will include early warning systems and data on human exposure, such as findings from biomonitoring studies. By identifying issues earlier, regulators can take action more promptly and potentially prevent wider environmental contamination. Additionally, ECHA will be granted the authority to request data where gaps are identified, and measures will be introduced to increase the transparency of scientific studies, including those submitted by industry.
The legislative proposals will now move through the standard EU process for adoption, requiring review and agreement from both the European Parliament and the Council.
