Safer Chemicals Podcast

Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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Biocidal Products Committee: Ethanol opinion explained

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 16:03:30 +0000

This episode of our Safer Chemicals Podcast focuses on the Biocidal Product Committee’s (BPC) conclusion on the use of the active substance ethanol. The BPC supports its approval for use in hand and general disinfectants (product-types 1, 2 and 4) but does not take a position on whether ethanol should be considered a carcinogenic or reprotoxic substance.

Listen to the Committee Chair Joost van Galen telling what led to this opinion, what it means in practice and what will happen next.

ECHA’s Biocidal Products Committee meets to prepare scientific opinions for the European Commission on biocidal active substances and on EU-wide authorisations of biocidal products. The Commission takes final decisions based on these opinions.

Useful links:

ECHA’s Biocides Committee supports approval of ethanol in disinfectants - ECHA news, 24 February 2026

Highlights from February Biocidal Products Committee meeting - ECHA news, 4 March 2026

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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PFAS restriction proposal and new hazard classes: December committee updates

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 19:17:15 +0000

In this episode, we deconstruct the outcomes of the December meetings of the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) and the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC).

Topics include:

Universal PFAS restriction proposal: The interviewees break down the latest discussions on the proposal, with a particular focus on PFAS manufacturing and the so-called “horizontal issues” that cut across all sectors. The SEAC's approaches to alternatives analysis, cost-benefit considerations, and proportionality are discussed, with special attention on the unique aspects of PFAS manufacturing.
Sector-specific insights: The episode reviews the committees’ conclusions on all 14 sectors, with a spotlight on SEAC's discussions on the complex electronics and semiconductor sector.
Next steps and stakeholder consultation: Listeners are guided through the upcoming consultation on SEAC's draft opinion, including how stakeholders can contribute, and the importance of providing targeted, relevant information to inform the final opinion.
Milestone in chemical classification: The episode also marks a milestone for the Risk Assessment Committee: the first classification opinion using new hazard classes under the revised CLP regulation.

Useful links

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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EU enforcement project: targeted checks uncovered non-compliances in imported products.

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 06:08:15 +0000

In this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, host Päivi Jokiniemi is joined by Henrik Hedlund, Chair of ECHA's Enforcement Forum, and Maciej Baranski, Team Leader of ECHA's Harmonised Enforcement Team, to discuss the results of a recent EU-wide REACH enforcement project. Inspectors from 29 countries conducted targeted checks on over 2 600 imported products, focusing on compliance with EU chemical regulations.

The conversation explores the project's scope, objectives, and key findings, including persistent non-compliance in imported mixtures and consumer products such as jewellery, toys, textiles, and footwear. Notably, one in three substances in imported mixtures lacked REACH registration, and hazardous heavy metals were frequently found in jewellery. The episode highlights trends over time, the effectiveness of customs and enforcement collaboration, and the impact of enforcement actions in protecting consumers and the environment.

Listeners will gain insights into the challenges of regulating imported chemicals, the importance of pre-release checks, and recommendations for companies and authorities to improve compliance. The episode concludes with advice for importers and an invitation to follow up on the ongoing project through stakeholder workshops and the full report available on ECHA’s website.

Useful links

Enforcement Forum finds non-compliance in imported substances, mixtures and products - ECHA news, 10 December 2025
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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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PFAS, titanium dioxide, and new tasks: September committee updates

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 07:38:51 +0000

In this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, host Adam Elwan is joined by Roberto Scazzola, Chair of the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC), and Maria Ottati, Chair of the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC). Together, they unpack the latest updates from the recent committee meetings, with a special focus on the universal PFAS restriction proposal.

Listeners will hear about:

The finalisation and publication of the background document for the PFAS restriction, and what it means for stakeholders and the committee’s ongoing work.
Key sector discussions, including electronics, semiconductors, and manufacturing, and the latest on assessing emissions, alternatives, and stakeholder input.
The importance of “horizontal issues” that cut across all sectors, such as concentration limits and risk management measures.
Progress and timelines for both committees, including upcoming consultations and opportunities for stakeholder engagement.
New tasks on the horizon for RAC and SEAC, covering among others, packaging and packaging waste, toys, batteries, and end-of-life vehicles.
A special segment on the recent European Court of Justice ruling regarding classification of titanium dioxide, and its implications for scientific opinion-making.

The episode wraps up with an invitation for listeners to submit questions or topics for future episodes. If you have questions or topics you would like us to cover in our upcoming episodes, send them to us at video@echa.europa.eu.

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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PFAS, Chromium VI and worker safety: June committee updates

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 18:53:13 +0000

In this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, host Adam Elwan is joined by Roberto Scazzola, Chair of the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC), and Maria Ottati, Chair of the Socio-economic Analysis Committee (SEAC), to unpack the latest developments from the June committee meetings.

We talk about:

The evolving PFAS restriction proposal, with a focus on medical devices, lubricants, and the electronics and semiconductor sectors
SEAC’s conclusions on the transport sector and the socio-economic analysis of PFAS uses
The new restriction proposal on Chromium VI substances and what the conformity check entails
A deep look at occupational exposure limits (OELs), including the latest recommendation for bisphenol A (BPA) and how these limits protect workers across the EU

The episode also touches on the challenges of group restrictions, the importance of stakeholder input, and how lessons learnt in Europe may shape global chemical safety standards.

Subscribe and follow us for more updates on sound science and safer chemicals.

June RAC and SEAC meeting highlights - ECHA news, 18 June 2025

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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Biocidal Products Committee: Analysing alternatives to anticoagulant rodenticides

Mon, 19 May 2025 11:38:36 +0000

ECHA’s Biocidal Products Committee met on 12-16 May 2025.

In this episode, the committee chair Joost van Galen joins host Päivi Jokiniemi to discuss the key outcomes from the meeting. Topics covered include Union authorisations and data gaps, harmonised list of environment endpoints for pyrethroid metabolites, and the renewal applications for anticoagulant rodenticides and the related analysis of alternatives.

The Committee’s task is to prepare scientific opinions for the European Commission on biocidal active substances and on EU-wide authorisations of biocidal products.

Useful links:

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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PFAS restriction update: energy, transport and fluorinated gases

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 22:19:44 +0000

In this episode, we dive into the highlights of ECHA's Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis committees' meetings.

First, we explore the ongoing discussions on restricting PFAs, including new sectors like transport and energy. We discuss the challenges of assessing complex sectors, stakeholder engagement, and addressing information gaps on alternatives.

Next, we give an overview of the harmonised classification and labelling proposals for silver nitrate and silicon dioxide, detailing their uses and the committees' conclusions.

Finally, we update you on the Risk Assessment Committee's preparations for the Drinking Water Directive, discussing the development of positive lists and the process for ensuring the safe use of materials in contact with drinking water.

Stay informed on the latest in chemical safety and regulation. Subscribe for more updates and follow us on social media!

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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ECHA committees give update on PFAS restriction proposal and discuss harmonised classification

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 16:51:09 +0000

In this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, Adam Elwan is joined by Roberto Scazzola, Chair of the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC), and María Ottati, Chair of the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC). They discuss highlights of the November committee meetings, focusing on the scientific evaluation of the proposal to restrict PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in sectors such as construction products, textiles and food contact materials and packaging.

Roberto also provides insights into the harmonised classification process under the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation, while María offers valuable advice for companies preparing applications for authorisation.

Useful links

November RAC and SEAC meeting highlights - ECHA news, 5 December 2024

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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EU enforcement project checks safety data sheets - still room for improvement

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 15:30:35 +0000

In this episode we talk about one of the core tools for chemical safety in the workplace: safety data sheets. They contain information on how to safely handle, store, and dispose of chemicals. It is the responsibility of the supplier to provide safety data sheets to their customer when selling hazardous chemicals or mixtures.

In 2021, new requirements for safety data sheets were introduced under the REACH Regulation, and this year, ECHA’s Enforcement Forum carried out an EU-wide project to check if companies are following these updated rules.

The inspectors found that 35 % of the checked safety data sheets were non-compliant. Compliance has improved from previous projects but further efforts are needed to better protect workers and professional users from the risks of hazardous chemicals.

Our guests are Abdulqadir Mohamad Suleiman, the Norwegian alternate member of ECHA’s Enforcement Forum and the Chair of the working group managing this enforcement project and Maciej Baranski, leading the Harmonised Enforcement Team at ECHA, which contributed to the project.

Useful links

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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New approach methodologies: shaping research for non-animal test methods

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 07:06:06 +0000

In this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, we dive into ECHA’s new initiatives in advancing non-animal testing methods through the New Approach Methodologies Framework Contract.

Our guests, Sylvia Escher from the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, and Tomasz Sobanski from ECHA’s Alternative Methods Team, discuss research projects aimed at transforming how chemicals are assessed for safety.

Useful links

ECHA to investigate new test method potentially replacing toxicity testing with fish - ECHA news 13 November 2024
Animal testing under the REACH Regulation

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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ECHA committees discuss PFAS restriction and hazards of Talc

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 17:25:50 +0000

In this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, Adam Elwan is joined by Roberto Scazzola, Chair of the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC), and María Ottati, Chair of the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC). They talk about the September committee meetings, discussing the scientific evaluation of the proposal to restrict PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) across multiple industries, including petroleum, mining, textiles, and food packaging.

Additionally, they address the proposal to classify talc as a carcinogenic substance and companies' applications to use chromium VI in the aviation and defense sectors.

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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ECHA’s Member State Committee: Resolving divergences for chemical safety

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 13:03:54 +0000

In this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, we explore the vital work carried out by the European Chemicals Agency’s Member State Committee. Host Päivi Jokiniemi is joined by Katinka van der Jagt, Chair of the Member State Committee, alongside two of the committee's national members, Katarzyna Malkiewicz from the Swedish Chemicals Agency KEMI, and Agnieszka Dudra from the Polish Bureau for Chemical Substances.

The European Union, a partnership of 27 countries, is committed to building a safer and healthier future. ECHA’s Member State Committee exemplifies this commitment by bringing together representatives from all EU member states to reach consensus on key chemical safety decisions.

Throughout the episode, our guests talk about the unique aspects of the Member State Committee, discussing its tasks, responsibilities, and the collaborative nature of its decision-making process. They highlight the importance of science-based decisions, transparency, and the committee’s role in promoting the substitution and minimisation of harmful substances.

Key topics:

Committee voting procedure and its impact on committee collaboration
Generation of experimental data for industrial chemicals and its significance in identifying hazardous substances
Identification of substances of very high concern, particularly those with endocrine-disrupting properties
National perspectives on chemical safety priorities and how they influence committee decisions
Importance of science and legal frameworks in resolving divergences and achieving consensus
Future challenges, including emerging chemical concerns like nanomaterials, neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and the development of non-animal testing methods

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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Restricting PFAS in the EU: Next sectors to be evaluated by ECHA's committees

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 23:27:10 +0000

In this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, host Adam Elwan is joined by Roberto Scazzola, the Chair of ECHA's Risk Assessment Committee and Maria Ottati who chairs the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee to discuss the ongoing efforts and challenges in regulating harmful chemicals.

The episode focuses on the universal PFAS restriction proposal, addressing its persistency and health impacts, and the committees' approach to evaluating different sectors in batches.

They also explore the initial discussions on harmonising the classification and labelling of talc, and the steps towards recommending occupational exposure limits for bisphenol A (BPA).

Tune in for the latest updates on the committees' work in protecting health and the environment, their socio-economic implications, and the vital role of stakeholder contributions in this complex process.

Useful links

More

June RAC and SEAC meeting highlights - ECHA news, 13 June 2024
Agenda of RAC’s meeting [PDF] [EN]
Agenda of SEAC’s meeting [PDF] [EN]
REACH restriction process
Harmonised classification and labelling
Risk Assessment Committee
Socio-Economic Analysis Committee

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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Biocidal Products Committee: Applicants responsible for making sure their dossiers are complete

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 12:15:25 +0000

ECHA’s Biocidal Products Committee met during the last week of May 2024 and adopted altogether 18 opinions.

Join Päivi Jokiniemi and Joost van Galen, the Chair of the Biocidal Products Committee, in this episode of Safer Chemicals Podcast. They discuss, for example, what happens when the assessment of endocrine disrupting properties is lacking from applications. Joost also comes back to the topic of data gaps and missing information, and reminds companies of their responsibility of making sure that their applications are complete and meet the data requirements under the Biocidal Products Regulation.

The Committee’s task is to prepare scientific opinions for the European Commission on biocidal active substances and on EU-wide authorisations of biocidal products. The Commission takes the final decisions based on these opinions.

Useful links

More

ECHA raises concern over missing data in biocides applications - ECHA news, 5 June 2024
Agenda of the May 2024 BPC meeting [PDF] [EN]

Understanding the Biocidal Products Regulation
Biocidal Products Regulation (528/2012)
Guidance on biocides legislation
Biocidal Products Committee (contains also working procedures)

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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Advancing chemical safety: the impact of new hazard classes in the CLP Regulation

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 12:55:27 +0000

The Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation, also known as the CLP Regulation, requires companies to classify, label and package their hazardous chemicals appropriately before placing them on the EU market to protect health and the environment but also to ensure free movement of substances, mixtures and article.

In this episode, the host Päivi Jokiniemi and the head of ECHA’s Hazard classification unit, Paul Ryan, talk about the amendment that introduced new hazard classes to the regulation – these entered into force in April 2023.

They will also discuss the ongoing CLP revision that is one of the key deliverables of the European Commission’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. While it aims to update and optimise the regulation by ensuring that dangerous chemicals are properly identified, labelled and classified, it is also an important element in Europe’s move towards a toxic free environment.

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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Assessing EU's chemicals legislation: more needs to be done to make chemicals safe and sustainable

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 23:07:37 +0000

Welcome to this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, where we look into the EU indicator framework for chemicals, focused on improving chemical safety across Europe.

The transition towards safer and more sustainable chemicals is progressing in some areas, while in others, it is just beginning. This is the finding of a first, joint Europe-wide assessment of the drivers and impact of chemical pollution by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). The benchmarking found that more work is still needed to reduce the impact of harmful substances on human health and the environment. 

We are joined by Leena Ylä-Mononen, the Executive Director of EEA and Sharon McGuinness, the Executive Director of ECHA. Together, they discuss the roles their agencies play in developing these indicators. This episode offers an in-depth look at how these agencies work together to support safer chemical management, highlighting the real-world impact of their work on environmental and public health.

We'll explore the challenges faced during the project, the collaboration between various European institutions, and what future developments we might expect in the realm of chemical safety.

Background

According to the joint EEA-ECHA synthesis report on the EU indicator framework for chemicals, the overall use of the most harmful chemicals (in particular those that are carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic) is still growing but more slowly than the overall chemicals market growth. Pressure is increasing to avoid the use of so-called substances of concern and to implement the principles of the safe and sustainable by design framework. 

There is a need to more effectively ensure that consumer products do not contain the most harmful substances, for example chemicals that are endocrine disrupting, that negatively affect the hormone system, or substances that are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic, which present a risk for years to come even after their use has ceased.

More data and information are needed to better understand human and environmental exposure to those most harmful chemicals and their impacts. Still, the indicators show clearly that the shift to safe and sustainable chemicals must continue and should even be accelerated.

Listen to our episode for a deep dive into what the main findings of this initial assessment were and check the online dashboard for more details.

Useful links

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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PFAS restriction sectoral approach: Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis Committee highlights

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 21:59:49 +0000

This episode of the Safer Chemicals podcast, hosted by Adam Elwan from ECHA, dives into the work of the committees' work on the proposal to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Europe.

Adam is joined by Roberto Scazzola and Maria Ottati, chairs of ECHA's Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis committees as they discuss the first steps of forming scientific opinions on the restriction proposal.

The episode also touches on the committees' work on other areas, such as the harmonised classification of lithium salts and the use of chromium VI compounds in key industries.

Listeners will come away with a clearer understanding of the importance of scientific and technical robustness in the committee's work, and the Agency's commitment to ensuring chemical safety in the EU.

Useful links

More

March RAC and SEAC meeting highlights - ECHA news, 20 March 2024
Agenda of RAC’s meeting [PDF] [EN]
Agenda of SEAC’s meeting [PDF] [EN]
REACH restriction process
Harmonised classification and labelling
Risk Assessment Committee
Socio-Economic Analysis Committee

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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Joining forces for humans, animals, environment: One Health - Part 2

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 13:54:48 +0000

Our wellbeing depends on the health of animals, plants and our environment. What affects one affects all the others, and increasingly so.

A One Health perspective is about joining forces to find integrated solutions to common challenges such as climate change and antibiotic resistance.

Join us to hear from experts at five EU scientific agencies about how we can put One Health into practice. Whether it's safeguarding access to life-saving medicines or combating the next pandemics, a One Health approach will be essential to how our society navigates the future. 

This is the second of our two part episode with speakers from five EU agencies. Listen to the first episode here.

Host

James Ramsay, Head of Communications - European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)

Guests

Carlos das Neves, Chief Scientist - European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
Wim De Coen, Head of Hazard Assessment at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
Mike Catchpole, Chief Scientist at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
Dario Piselli, Expert in environment and health at the European Environment Agency (EEA)
Steffen Thirstrup, Chief Medical Officer at the European Medicines Agency (EMA)

Check our website and stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter.

Useful links

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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Joining forces for humans, animals, environment: One Health - Part 1

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 08:29:07 +0000

Our wellbeing depends on the health of animals, plants and our environment. What affects one affects all the others, and increasingly so.

A One Health perspective is about joining forces to find integrated solutions to common challenges such as climate change and antibiotic resistance.

This is the first of our two part episode with speakers from five EU agencies.

Host

James Ramsay, Head of Communications - European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)

Guests

Carlos das Neves, Chief Scientist - European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
Wim De Coen, Head of Hazard Assessment at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
Mike Catchpole, Chief Scientist at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
Dario Piselli, Expert in environment and health at the European Environment Agency (EEA)
Steffen Thirstrup, Chief Medical Officer at the European Medicines Agency (EMA)

Check our website and stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter.

Useful links

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

EU enforcement project: excessive levels of harmful chemicals found in consumer products

Sat, 09 Dec 2023 20:41:59 +0000

Welcome to the Safer Chemicals Podcast. In this episode, we explore an EU enforcement project that revealed concerning levels of banned chemicals in everyday consumer goods across Europe. The findings? A significant 18% non-compliance rate in various items like electrical devices, sports gear, toys, and fashion products.

Join us as we discuss the project's key discoveries and recommendations with experts Karin Rumar and Maciej Baranski. They shed light on the presence of harmful substances like phthalates, lead, and cadmium in these items, and how enforcement measures were taken to address non-compliant products.

The project's recommendations for industry emphasise the responsibility of companies in ensuring product safety. They advocate for heightened awareness, risk-based compliance checks, and stringent assessments to prevent hazardous chemicals in consumer goods.

Check our website for the full report and stay updated on future initiatives by subscribing to our newsletter.

Useful links

Hazardous chemicals found in consumer products - ECHA news, 13 December 2023
Safety Gate: EU rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products
Episode transcript
More episodes on the Enforcement Forum
Give us feedback">Give us feedback

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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Unpacking 5 600 comments on PFAS restriction: Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis Committee highlights

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 19:05:38 +0000

Welcome to the Safer Chemicals Podcast. Join host Adam Elwan as he delves into the work of the European Chemicals Agency's scientific committees. In this episode, we talk about the record number of comments received for the proposed restriction of PFAS and the harmonised classification of tea tree oil.

Discover the unprecedented public engagement as we explore the analysis of over 5 600 comments received on the proposed PFAS restriction. Our experts, Roberto Scazzola and Maria Ottati, shed light on the extensive input from various sectors, offering insights into the diverse perspectives and key concerns highlighted by industry experts and individuals alike.

From electronic and semiconductor industries to discussions on cosmetics and textiles, we dig deeper into the breadth of feedback received and its potential impact on regulatory decisions.

Stay tuned as the Risk Assessment Committee addresses the evaluation of tea tree oil, discussing its potential impact on various sectors including fragrances, cosmetics, and plant protection products.

Join us for a deep dive into the world of chemical oversight, scientific opinions, and the profound impact of public input on shaping regulatory decisions. Subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes covering crucial findings and insights on chemical regulations and safety.

What the committees do

The two committees prepare scientific opinions that are used by the European Commission and EU Member States when deciding how chemical risks need to be controlled. They are made up of scientists from EU Member States and have observers from EU organisations that represent different sectors and interests.

Useful links

More

Highlights from November RAC and SEAC meetings - ECHA news, 7 December 2023
Agenda of RAC’s meeting [PDF] [EN]
Agenda of SEAC’s meeting [PDF] [EN]
REACH restriction process">REACH restriction process
Harmonised classification and labelling">Harmonised classification and labelling
Risk Assessment Committee">Risk Assessment Committee
Socio-Economic Analysis Committee">Socio-Economic Analysis Committee

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Full episode transcript

Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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Biocidal Products Committee: Data gaps slowing down substance approvals and product authorisations

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 18:04:10 +0000

Join Päivi Jokiniemi and Joost van Galen in this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast.

The episode focuses on the most important outcomes of the November meeting of our Biocidal Products Committee. Joost tells, for example, about the adopted Union authorisation opinions and explains why the Committee will continue discussing its opinion on an active substance application for bronopol in an additional virtual meeting in December 2023. He also raises the issue of data gaps and gives tips to companies on how to avoid them.

What the Biocidal Products Committee does:

The Committee prepares scientific opinions for the European Commission on biocidal active substances and on EU-wide authorisations of biocidal products.

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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Bridging the gap between scientific research and chemicals regulation

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 09:09:42 +0000

In this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, we take you on a deep dive into the world of chemical safety with a spotlight on scientific research needs for the regulatory risk assessment of chemicals.

Päivi Jokiniemi speaks with ECHA's experts, Wim De Coen and Fleur van Broekhuizen, who give insights into the significance of scientific research in chemical regulation. Together, they explore the fundamental questions: Why is scientific research crucial for EU chemicals regulation, and what is ECHA doing to address the ever-evolving challenges in this field?

Learn why scientific research is the cornerstone of ECHA's efforts, enabling the identification of chemical hazards, assessment of risks, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Get an inside look at ECHA's collaborative approach, where engagement with the scientific community is paramount. Understand how ECHA actively cooperates with researchers, fostering dialogue and knowledge exchange to drive chemical safety.

Explore the Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC), an initiative that allocates substantial funding to research projects aimed at enhancing regulatory practices and improving chemical safety.

Discover the key areas of regulatory challenge highlighted in ECHA's recent report and gain insights into how increased scientific research can provide better protection against harmful chemicals, address chemical pollution in the natural environment, shift away from animal testing, and improve the availability of chemical data.

Wim works as a head of unit in our Hazard Assessment Directorate and Fleur in the team coordinating ECHA's activities under PARC.

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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Banning creosote-treated wood: Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis Committee highlights

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 18:13:10 +0000

Join Adam Elwan in the latest episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast as he welcomes the new Chair of the Risk Assessment Committee, Roberto Scazzola, and Maria Ottati, Chair of the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee.

They talk about the ongoing evaluation of the universal PFAS restriction proposal, France's proposal to restrict creosote-treated wood, the impact of new CLP hazard classes, and more.

Get the latest updates on chemical risk assessment and regulation in Europe.

What the committees do

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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Biocidal Products Committee: New Chair's outlook on future challenges

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 17:54:37 +0000

After the summer break, the Biocidal Products Committee is back in business discussing the latest active substance and Union authorisation cases.

In this episode, we will introduce Joost van Galen, the new Chair of the committee, who tells about his background and how it has prepared him for this new role. He also shares his thoughts about the main challenges that the committee will be facing in the coming years. In addition, we cover the most important opinions that the committee concluded on during the
September meeting.

What the Biocidal Products Committee does

The Committee prepares scientific opinions for the European Commission on biocidal active substances and on EU-wide authorisations of biocidal products.

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Highlights from September Biocidal Products Commitee meeting - ECHA news update, 20 September 2023

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ECHA's committees in focus: Tim Bowmer reflects on 11 years as Chair, PFAS restrictions, and future outlook

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 06:50:50 +0000

Welcome to the Safer Chemicals Podcast, where we delve into the world of chemical risk management. In this episode, we speak with Tim Bowmer and Maria Ottati, Chairs of ECHA's Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis Committees.

They update us on the universal PFAS restriction proposal, an ambitious initiative to minimise the release of persistent chemicals. Tim Bowmer also reflects on his impressive 11 years as Chair and sheds light on the evolving regulatory landscape.

Join us as we explore the latest developments and discuss the future challenges faced by ECHA's committees.

What the committees do

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ECHA’s committees: EU-wide PFAS ban in firefighting foams warranted - ECHA news, 21 June 2023
Agenda of RAC’s meeting [PDF] [EN]
Agenda of SEAC’s meeting [PDF] [EN]
REACH restriction process
Applications for authorisation
Harmonised classification and labelling
Occupational exposure limits
Risk Assessment Committee
Socio-Economic Analysis Committee

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Enforcement Forum's impact and future: insights from the Forum's outgoing Chair

Sun, 18 Jun 2023 19:52:28 +0000

Join us in this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast as we explore the latest developments from the Enforcement Forum of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

In conversation with Katja vom Hofe, the outgoing Chair of the Forum, we reflect on the achievements and challenges faced in promoting chemical safety and enforcement.

Discover how the Forum's collaborative efforts have shaped the future of chemical regulation in Europe and learn about the upcoming REACH enforcement project, REF-13.

We dive into the topic of enforcing chemical products sold online, exploring the scope, impact, and potential changes in legislation.

Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from Katja, an expert with a unique perspective from leading the Forum for many years and discover how enforcement authorities are working together to ensure compliance and protect consumers in the digital age.

What the Forum does
The Forum and the BPRS are a network of enforcement authorities from the EU and EEA. They are responsible for coordinating the enforcement of REACH, CLP, PIC, POPs and BPR chemicals legislation. Their aim is to protect peoples’ health and the environment while ensuring a level playing field for companies on the EU market.

New EU chemicals enforcement project to focus on products sold online - ECHA news, 20 June 2023
Episode transcript">Episode transcript
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Biocidal Products Committee: reflecting on ten years of committee work

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 06:09:15 +0000

This episode gives you the highlights from the June meeting of our Biocidal Products Committee. Our guest is the Chair of the committee, Erik van de Plassche.

In this episode we cover, for example, topical active substance and Union authorisation cases. We also discuss some procedural topics related to data that is generated after an active substance has been approved as well as minor and major change applications in the context of Union authorisations.

We also take a broader look at the work of the committee and hear Erik’s reflections on how it has developed during the past ten years, as this was his last meeting as the chair of the committee.

What the Biocidal Products Committee does

The Committee prepares scientific opinions for the European Commission on biocidal active substances and on EU-wide authorisations of biocidal products.

Highlights from March BPC meeting

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Risk Assessment Committee backs PFAS ban in firefighting foams

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 07:21:39 +0000

Tim Bowmer and María Ottati, Chairs of our committees for risk assessment and socio-economic analysis join us to share the highlights from their March 2023 meetings.

On the agenda:

• Restricting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

The universal restriction proposal prepared by the authorities of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden was discussed for the first time in the committees. Both committees confirmed that the proposal conforms with the legal requirements of REACH. A six-month consultation starts on 22 March. An online info session to all stakeholders takes place on 5 April.

• Restricting PFAS in firefighting foams

This proposal would ban the placing on the market, use and formulation of all PFAS in firefighting foams after specific transition periods. RAC adopted its opinion supporting the proposed restriction. SEAC agreed its draft opinion, which is subject to consultation until 15 May 2023.

• Restricting DMAC/NEP

This proposal would harmonise the occupational exposure limit on these two dipolar aprotic solvents to protect workers. RAC adopted its opinion supporting the initiative. SEAC agreed its draft opinion, which is subject to consultation until 15 May 2023. Both substances are harmful to reproduction and may harm the unborn child.

Tim and María walk us through the committees' opinions and how they reached their conclusions.

What the committees do

More

• ECHA’s Risk Assessment Committee backs PFAS ban in firefighting foams - ECHA news, 21 March 2023

• Risk Assessment Committee - official webpage

• Socio-Economic Analysis Committee - official webpage

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Biocidal Products Committee: Nitrogen generated from ambient air as a low-risk active substance

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 14:12:10 +0000

This episode gives you the highlights from the March meeting of our Biocidal Products Committee. Our guest is the Chair of the Committee, Erik van de Plassche.

The main topic of the episode is the nitrogen generated from ambient air. We cover the main points of discussion and motivation for the committee’s opinion.

Background

The Committee prepares scientific opinions for the European Commission on biocidal active substances and on EU-wide authorisations of biocidal products.

Full episode transcript (coming soon)

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EU enforcement project: full compliance with EU chemicals law needed

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 12:04:11 +0000

The Forum on Enforcement’s EU wide project on assessing REACH authorisation duties found that the majority of users of substances of very high concern (SVHC), mainly SMEs, already comply with the authorisation requirement to control risks.

Inspectors from 28 European countries checked compliance with REACH authorisation requirements in the Forum REF-9 project. Authorisation applies to substances of very high concern (e.g. substances that cause cancer or are toxic to reproduction or mutagenic), which are included in the authorisation list (Annex XIV) of REACH. These substances may only be used or marketed if companies receive an authorisation from the European Commission for their specific uses. Authorisation is meant to protect workers and the environment while phasing out these highly hazardous substances from the market.

We are joined by Eugen Anwander, the Chair of the working group for the project who also represent the enforcement authorities and Maciej Baranski who works in the Harmonised Enforcement Team at the European Chemicals Agency. They share their insights into the results and explain the main recommendations and follow-up actions.

Authorities and ECHA push for compliance with authorisation duties - news, 8 March 2023

REF-9 project report on enforcement of compliance with REACH authorisation obligations - PDF document

Forum enforcement projects - official webpage

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What we know about (bio)degradation and safety by design of nanomaterials

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode we focus on nanomaterials, and more specifically, on how they persist in the environment and how their safety should be considered already when the products are being designed.

Nanomaterials have different properties than larger materials. Producing them opens new opportunities in many fields - but they may also have different effects on our health and the environment than larger forms.

The European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials, also known as EUON, recently concluded a study looking at what tools are available for assessing the biodegradation of nanomaterials, and how these can be used for regulatory processes.

The study also looked at the 'Safe by design' concept for nanomaterials, and if and how safety considerations are introduced when designing and developing products and processes.

You will hear three experts discussing the topic:

Dr Richard Cross, an Ecotoxicologist from the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology who is an expert on biodegradation. He has a particular interest in the fate and behaviours of engineered nanomaterials, microplastics and nanoplastics and how this relates to their biological interactions.

Dr Socorro Vázquez-Campos who is the lead of the Human and Environmental Health & Safety Group at LEITAT Technological Centre in Barcelona. She leads an EU project that aims to develop a platform to guide the Safe by Design concept for nanomaterials.

Virginia Rodriguez Unamuno, a Scientific Officer from the European Chemicals Agency who will talk us through the study and its findings.

EUON website

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Nanomaterials’ (bio)degradation, persistence, and safe by design (SbD) examined in a recent study - news, 12 December 2022

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Limiting lead use for outdoor shooting and fishing: Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis Committees

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 19:00:00 +0000

Our scientific committees have had their last meetings of the year and in this episode we cover the outcomes of the Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis committees.

Tim, the Chair of the Risk Assessment Committee and Maria who chairs the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee join us.

We talk about the restriction of lead ammunition for hunting and outdoor sports shooting and lead used in fishing tackle. Here, the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee adopted its opinion on the costs and benefits and the Risk Assessment Committee carried out a further analysis of data from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on the risks from ingesting lead through game meat.

Also on the agenda were the restriction of Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in clay targets for shooting and an opinion on occupational exposure limits for cobalt and inorganic cobalt compounds.

Tim also talks us through setting a derived no-effect level for DOTE to protect workers, a chemical which is on the REACH Authorisation List of substances of very high concern.

What the committees do

The two committees prepare scientific opinions that are used by the European Commission and EU member states when deciding how chemical risks need to be controlled. They are made up of scientists from EU Member States and have observers from EU organisations that represent different sectors and interests.

Related episodes:

Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis Committees: Cancer-causing PAHs in clay targets need an EU-wide ban

Biocidal Products Committee

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ECHA’s scientific committees support limiting lead use for outdoor shooting and fishing - ECHA news, 30 November 2022
Highlights from December RAC and SEAC meetings - ECHA update, 8 December 2022
Risk Assessment Committee
Socio-Economic Analysis Committee

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Biocidal Products Committee: Rodent traps can be effective at controlling house mice infestations

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 11:00:00 +0000

This episode gives you the highlights from the November meeting of our Biocidal Products Committee. Our guest is the Chair of the Committee, Erik van de Plassche.

The main topic of the episode is the comparative assessment of anticoagulant rodenticides. We cover the main points of discussion and motivation for the committee’s opinion.

We also discuss the guidance on analysis of alternatives that was on the agenda for agreement, most interesting opinions on active substance approval and hear how the committee is planning to harmonise and streamline its processes to get ready for the future work load.

For more background, you can listen to our previous episodes where the comparative assessment of anticoagulant rodenticides were discussed:

Biocidal Products Committee: Sulphur dioxide, iodine & anticoagulant rodenticides

Highlights from the December 2021 Biocidal Products Committee

More:

Rodent traps can be effective at controlling house mice infestations - news, 29 November 2022

Biocidal Products Committee

Background

The Committee prepares scientific opinions for the European Commission on biocidal active substances and on EU-wide authorisations of biocidal products.

Full episode transcript

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EU enforcement project to focus on imported products: Enforcement Forum November highlights

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Katja Vom Hofe, the Chair of the Enforcement Forum joins us to shed light on the discussions of the Forum in their November meeting.

We talk about:

The next REACH enforcement project that will investigate how companies fulfil their registration, authorisation and restriction obligations for products and chemicals they import from outside the EU.
The publication of the Forum's future advice on the enforceability of new restriction proposals under REACH.
Opportunities for expanding the role of the Forum and strengthening the control of imports as well as the enforceability of REACH restrictions, for example, in textiles or on the use of lead gunshot in wetlands as well as analytical methods relevant for the control of REACH duties.

Next EU-wide REACH enforcement project to focus on imported products -
ECHA news, 16 November 2022

Background

The Forum and the BPRS are a network of enforcement authorities from the EU and EEA. They are responsible for coordinating the enforcement of REACH, CLP, PIC, POPs and BPR chemicals legislation. Their aim is to protect peoples’ health and the environment while ensuring a level playing field for companies on the EU market.

The Forum met on 7-11 November and the BPRS on 16 November. The next Forum and BPRS meetings takes place in March 2023.

Full episode transcript

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Biocidal Products Committee: Sulphur dioxide, iodine & anticoagulant rodenticides

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Highlights from the September 2022 meeting of our Biocidal Products Committee. Our guest is Erik van de Plassche, the Chair of the Committee.

We talk about:

Active substance approvals

Properties that lead to meeting exclusion or substitution criteria, specifically persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic or very persistent and very bioaccumulative substances.
Sulphur dioxide generated from sulphur by combustion for the food and feed area as well as Sulphur dioxide released from sodium metabisulphite for fibre, leather, rubber and polymerised material preservatives.
Ozone generated from oxygen for several product-types.
Mecetronium ethyl sulphate (MES) for human hygiene.

Requests from the European Commission

Iodine and PVP-iodine as disinfectants– opinion on whether they are considered to have endocrine disrupting properties for humans and non-target organisms.
Comparative assessment of anticoagulant rodenticides and rodent traps.
- Listen to our previous episode where the draft guidance for comparative assessment of anticoagulant rodenticides was discussed.

Union authorisations

Union authorisation application for active chlorine released from sodium hypochlorite (biocidal products family with large consortiums as applicants)

What the Biocidal Products Committee does

The Committee prepares scientific opinions for the European Commission on biocidal active substances and on EU-wide authorisations of biocidal products.

More

Highlights from September BPC meeting - ECHA news, 5 October 2022

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Cancer-causing PAHs in clay targets need an EU-wide ban: Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis Committees' highlights

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Tim Bowmer and Maria Ottati, Chairs of our committees for risk assessment and socio-economic analysis join us to share the highlights from their September meetings.

On the agenda:

Restricting polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in clay targets for shooting
The restriction prevents further environmental emissions of these toxic and very persistent substances that build up in people and animals. Many PAHs are also known to cause cancer.
Restriction of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT)
The Socio-Economic Analysis Committee concluded that the restriction is an appropriate EU-wide measure to address the identified risks while taking into account the benefits and costs to society.

The proposal limits the placing on the market and use of 2,4-DNT in consumer and professional products. 2,4-DNT may cause cancer.

Listen to our previous episode that covers 2,4-DNT.
Nine opinions of the Risk Assessment Committee on the harmonised classification and labelling for several borate salts
Update on the proposed restriction of lead in outdoor shooting and fishing - consultation comments received and next steps

Listen to our previous episode on lead in outdoor shooting and fishing.

Tim and Maria walk us through the committees' opinions and how they reached their conclusions.

What the committees do

The two committees prepare scientific opinions that are used by the European Commission and EU member states when deciding how chemical risks need to be controlled. They are made up of scientists from EU Member States and have observers from EU organisations that represent different sectors and interests.

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Cancer-causing PAHs in clay targets need an EU-wide ban - ECHA news, 20 September 2022
Risk Assessment Committee
Socio-Economic Analysis Committee

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OECD – 50 years of improving chemical safety worldwide

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 08:00:00 +0000

In 2022, the Chemicals Programme of the OECD – the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development – celebrates its 50th anniversary. The aim of the programme has been to improve chemical safety worldwide.

In this episode, we’ll speak with Bob Diderich, Head of the Environment, Health and Safety Division of the OECD. We first have a look back and reflect on some of the successes of the organisation before going into more details on what still needs to be done to further harmonise chemicals assessment across the world. But we also discuss the challenge of animal testing that is common to many OECD countries and how the road towards wider acceptance of alternative methods might look.

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Record number of opinions adopted in June meeting of the Biocidal Products Committee

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 08:00:00 +0000

This episode gives you the highlights from the June 2022 meeting of our Biocidal Products Committee. Our guest again is the Chair of the Committee, Erik van de Plassche.

The Biocidal Products Committee prepares scientific opinions for the European Commission on biocidal active substances and on EU-wide authorisations of biocidal products.

In June 2022, the Committee adopted a record number of opinions, altogether nine opinions on Union Authorisations and five concerning active substance applications. We also talk about two requests from the European Commission related to hexaflumuron and formaldehyde releasers.

Biocidal Products Committee

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EU projects and transparency: Enforcement Forum June meeting highlights

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Katja vom Hofe, the Chair of the Enforcement Forum joins us. She is just out of the Forum’s June meeting, and will be sharing the highlights.

We talk about the Forum's upcoming and on-going enforcement projects, including preliminary results of an EU-wide project on REACH authorisation (REF-9) where inspectors conducted more than 450 inspections to control REACH authorisation requirements for substances of very high concern.

Also in this episode, an update on the follow-up of a Forum project on online marketplaces. It looked at whether online sellers were giving enough safety information to customers when buying products with hazardous chemicals online and found a high level of incompliance. Listen to our earlier episode on the project results.

Katja also talks about the Forum's work on harmonising the way member states report their inspections to ensure consistent numbers in the EU and gives insight into how the Forum prepares inspectors for upcoming projects through training and other support material.

Background

The Forum is a network of enforcement authorities from the EU and EEA. They are responsible for coordinating the enforcement of EU chemicals legislation. the REACH, CLP, PIC, POP and the Biocidal Product regulations with the aim of protecting our health and the environment while ensuring a level playing field for companies across the EU market.

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Highlights from June Forum meeting (ECHA news, 21 June 2022)
Enforcement Forum: Who we are

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Group assessment identifies need to restrict more than 30 bisphenols

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Bisphenols are widely used and many are also known endocrine disruptors, which means that they can affect the hormonal systems of people and animals.

Bisphenol A, or BPA, is probably the most known chemical in this group. It has been used since the 1960s in many consumer goods like re-usable plastic tableware, plastic bottles, CDs and sports equipment, such as helmets.

Due to its harmful properties, BPA’s use has already been limited. But it’s not a secret that when authorities have regulated one substance companies often switch to another substance with a similar structure – and many times, one that also has similar effects. This has happened, for example, with BPA in thermal paper where it has largely been replaced by Bisphenol S.

Together with some EU Member States, we have been assessing the need to regulate bisphenols as a group. Our expert, Maarten Roggeman, joins us to explain how the assessment was done and what we can expect as next steps for managing their risks.'

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Group assessment of bisphenols identifies need for restriction

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Glyphosate, lead and silver: Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis Committees Highlights - June 2022

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Tim Bowmer and Maria Ottati, Chairs of our committees for risk assessment and socio-economic analysis join us for this episode to give us the highlights from their June meetings.

We talk about two opinions on harmonised classification and labelling adopted by the Risk Assessment Committee: glyphosate, a common herbicide used in agriculture and horticulture to combat weeds and silver, used as an antimicrobial in biocidal products like disinfectants and preservatives.

Glyphosate has had a lot of public attention recently and the committee has agreed to keep its current classification as causing serious eye damage and being toxic to aquatic life. Based on a wide-ranging review of scientific evidence, the committee concluded that classifying glyphosate as a carcinogen is not justified.

We also cover the EU-wide proposal to restrict the use of lead in ammunition for hunting, outdoor sports shooting, and fishing. Here the Risk Assessment Committee adopted its final opinion while the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee agreed on its draft opinion.

Tim and Maria walk us through the committees' opinions and how they reached their conclusions.

What do the committees do?

The two committees prepare scientific opinions that are used by the European Commission and EU member states when deciding how chemical risks need to be controlled. They are made up of scientists from EU Member States and have observers from EU organisations that represent different sectors and interests.

Give us feedback

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Glyphosate: no change proposed to hazard classification - ECHA news, 30 May 2022
RAC backs restricting lead in outdoor shooting and fishing - ECHA news, 31 May 2022
Risk Assessment Committee
Socio-Economic Analysis Committee

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EU Green Deal: paving the way for greener and safer chemicals

Mon, 23 May 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Martin Hojsík, a Slovak activist, environmental expert and Member of the European Parliament joins us for this episode.

He is a Member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and Vice-Chair of the Committee of Inquiry on the Protection of Animals during Transport. He is the European Chemicals Agency’s so-called 'liaison MEP', the one following the agency's work in the environment committee and overall in the European Parliament.

In the European Parliament, his work focuses on chemical policies, including pesticides, pollinator protection, climate, and biodiversity financing. He has a lot of experience in environmental protection and climate change.

Martin talks about EU chemicals policy: how the EU's Green Deal and Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability will help pave the way to a greener and safer use of chemicals in the future.

He also talks about how the chemicals industry in Europe can become the global leader in innovation when it comes to safe and sustainable chemicals and how he sees the role of alternatives to animal testing in regulatory science.

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Highlights from the March 2022 Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis committees

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 13:00:00 +0000

This episode gives you the highlights from the first 2022 meetings of the Committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC). We interviewed the Chairs of the two committees, Tim Bowmer (RAC) and Maria Ottati (SEAC).

Both Committees are made up of scientists nominated by EU Member States but appointed by the management Board of ECHA in their personal capacity and both have observers from different EU organisations representing civil society, academia and industry. They are responsible for making scientific opinions that are then used by the European Commission and EU member states when deciding how chemical risks need to be controlled.

You will hear about opinions on harmonised classification and labelling proposals, restrictions and applications for authorisation. We also talk about the use of human bio-monitoring to protect workers from exposure to harmful chemicals and much more.

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Highlights from the March 2022 Biocidal Products Committee

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 15:00:00 +0000

This episode covers the highlights from the first Biocidal Products Committee meeting in 2022, with Erik van de Plassche, Chair of ECHA’s Biocidal Products Committee.

The Biocidal Products Committee prepares scientific opinions for the European Commission on biocidal active substances and on EU-wide authorisations of biocidal products. The Commission takes the final decisions based on the opinions they receive from the Biocidal Products Committee.

You will get an overview on active substance and union authorisation applications discussed in the meeting and learn about the committee’s expectations for the rest of the year.

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Biocidal Products Committee

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Protecting our drinking water and food – EU restriction of PFAS in firefighting foams

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we speak with Peter van der Zandt, ECHA’s Risk Management Director about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS in short.

These so-called ‘forever chemicals’ are a family of over 4 000 synthetic chemicals that have been and continue to be widely used by society. The problem though is that their use has resulted in worldwide environmental pollution and human exposure.

They are called forever chemicals because they resist degradation, and some can be easily transported in the environment. Some of them have also been shown to be harmful to both people and the environment.

The EU’s Chemicals Strategy puts PFAS policy front and centre. The Commission commits to phasing out all PFAS, allowing their use only where they are proven essential to society.

As part of this work, ECHA proposes to restrict all PFAS used in firefighting foams. Another restriction proposal is in the making by five European countries that covers PFAS in any other use – for example in product packaging, cosmetic products, and non-stick kitchenware.

This episode takes a deep dive into PFAS used in firefighting foams and how the EU is preparing to restrict them.

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Highlights from the December 2021 Biocidal Products Committee

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 11:00:00 +0000

When companies apply to get their biocidal active substances approved or have their biocidal products authorised across the whole EU, individual EU member states check and evaluate the applications.

Then, it is the Biocidal Products Committee that forms an opinion on the evaluation. These opinions are sent to the European Commission which takes the final decision on whether or not to approve the substance for biocidal use.

Listen to Erik van de Plassche, Chair of the Biocidal Products Committee sharing the highlights from the December meeting.

The Committee discussed several active substance applications and two Union authorisations. Our focus in this episode is on the requests that the Committee received from the Commission related to endocrine-disrupting properties of two active substances.

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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Most inspected products sold online do not comply with EU chemicals law

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 07:00:00 +0000

This episode covers an EU-wide project where national authorities inspected nearly 6 000 products sold online in the EU and EEA. The project looked at different webshops and online marketplaces and whether they followed the rules set by EU chemicals legislation.

The inspections covered both professional products such as lead used for welding and consumer goods like textiles, leather, toys, and jewellery.

The project found that most of the inspected products did not comply with the law.

Join us for a deeper look into the findings and what needs to change for the low level of compliance to improve.

You will also get tips for buying products online and what steps you can take to ensure the products meet legal requirements and can be used safely.

Our guests are Karin Rumar, from the Swedish Chemicals Agency, also the Chair of the Working Group for the project, and Maciej Baranski, working in the Harmonised Enforcement Team in ECHA.

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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Assessing chemicals in groups: faster action on harmful chemicals

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 12:00:00 +0000

If you imagine chemicals as being stars in the sky, together they form a universe of substances, some closer to each other and others further apart with different properties and hazard profiles.

To help map this universe and speed up the identification of chemicals that need to be regulated, ECHA currently assesses them in groups. This means that we put structurally similar chemicals together, with the assumption that they are likely to have a similar hazard and can be used in a similar way. The outcomes of the assessments for the first groups of chemicals are now available.

By assessing substances in groups, the risk management of chemicals becomes more efficient, and making the assessments public brings more predictability for companies. It also helps them to avoid replacing a harmful chemical with another that could be equally harmful but has not yet made it to the authorities’ radar.

We interview Chrystele Tissier, who works as a Regulatory Officer in ECHA’s Prioritisation Unit. She talks about how ECHA assesses the regulatory needs for groups, what information is made public, and how it can be used by companies and authorities.

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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Making tattoos and permanent make-up safer

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Tattoos are a popular form of body art – at least 12 % of Europeans have them. In the 18-35 age group, twice as many are likely to have a tattoo.

The health risks of using dirty needles to inject the inks have been under scrutiny for a long time. Now, their chemical-related concerns have also been analysed and their risks have been regulated at the EU level.

To protect European citizens, thousands of hazardous chemicals found in tattoo inks and permanent make-up are restricted in the EU under the REACH Regulation from January 2022.

The restriction covers, for example, chemicals that cause cancer or genetic mutations and chemicals that are toxic to reproduction as well as skin sensitisers and irritants.

In this episode, you will be hearing from a toxicologist, dermatologist, and tattoo artist who talk about the negative health effects of harmful chemicals used in inks and how restricting their use impacts the tattooing and permanent make-up industry.

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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Nanomaterials in EU waste streams

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 07:00:00 +0000

A recent study has looked at product lifecycles, waste recycling and the circular economy for nanomaterials. Its findings show that we don’t currently have a full picture of how nanomaterials in products – and consequently in waste streams – may impact our health or the environment.

These knowledge gaps make it difficult to know how to recycle, treat or dispose of nanomaterials efficiently once products containing them are no longer used and become waste.

In this episode, we speak with two experts from the European Chemicals Agency. Abdel Sumrein is the Product manager for the EU Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) and Gary Watkins works as a Regulatory Officer in the Support and Enforcement Unit. We will discuss ECHA’s views on the study results and what more can be done to improve information on nanomaterials in waste streams.

The study was commissioned by the EUON and made by RPA Europe.

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Highlights from the October Biocidal Products Committee

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 08:00:00 +0000

When companies apply to get their biocidal active substances approved or have their biocidal products authorised across the whole EU, it is the Biocidal Products Committee that checks them and forms an opinion on the applications. The opinions are then sent to the European Commission which takes the final decision on the applications.

In this episode, we interview Erik van de Plassche, Chair of ECHA’s Biocidal Products Committee. We focus on the October meeting of the committee which covered, for example, nine cases for Union authorisations. In addition, the committee discussed its future workload, upcoming guidance on analysing alternatives, and several applications for active substance approvals.

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Biocidal Products Committee

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SCIP: transparency on hazardous chemicals in products

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 11:00:00 +0000

The SCIP database aims to improve transparency on the use of substances of very high concern (SVHCs), also known as Candidate List substances, in all products on the EU market. It can help consumers to make more informed purchasing choices and waste operators to further develop the re-use of articles and the recycling of materials. It can also be seen as a driver for substitution to get these extremely hazardous substances out from products, wherever possible.

In this episode, we interview Kevin Pollard from the European Chemicals Agency. Kevin is Head of the Exposure and Supply Chain Unit which is the core unit for ECHA’s SCIP implementation. We talk about what the SCIP database is, who can benefit from it and what information can be found there.

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Restriction of lead in outdoor shooting: Philip Taylor, ELEY Limited

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 14:00:00 +0000

Lead has been used in ammunition for hunting and sports shooting and in fishing tackle for centuries. It is estimated that each year around 100 000 tonnes of lead is dispersed into the EU environment from these uses. The European Chemicals Agency has looked into the possible risks from these uses to wildlife, livestock, the environment, and human health. It concluded that there are risks that are not adequately controlled and need to be addressed at the EU level.

We interviewed representatives from different organisations during an event organised by ECHA where stakeholders shared their views on a potential restriction on the use of lead in ammunition for hunting and sports shooting.

In this episode, we interview Philip Taylor, technical director of ELEY limited. ELEY manufactures ammunition for a variety of different types of shooting from hunting to precision sports shooting. Their products are used by shooters at club, world, and Olympic levels. Philip gives the manufacturing industry’s perspective on alternatives to lead ammunition.

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Lead in shots, bullets, and fishing weights: what is the EU doing?

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Disclaimer: Views expressed by interviewees do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Chemicals Agency. All content is up to date at the time of publication.

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Restriction of lead in outdoor shooting: David Scallan, European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE)

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 14:00:00 +0000

Lead has been used in ammunition for hunting and sports shooting and in fishing tackle for centuries. It is estimated that each year around 100 000 tonnes of lead is dispersed into the EU environment from these uses. The European Chemicals Agency has looked into the possible risks from these uses to wildlife, livestock, the environment, and human health. It concluded that there are risks that are not adequately controlled and need to be addressed at the EU level.

We interviewed representatives from different organisations during an event organised by ECHA where stakeholders shared their views on a potential restriction on the use of lead in ammunition for hunting and sports shooting.

We met with Dr. David Scallan from the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation to hear their views on the restriction. FACE represents 7 million hunters in Europe.

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Lead in shots, bullets, and fishing weights: what is the EU doing?

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Restriction of lead in outdoor shooting: Hans Steinkellner, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 14:00:00 +0000

Lead has been used in ammunition for hunting and sports shooting and in fishing tackle for centuries. It is estimated that each year around 100 000 tonnes of lead is dispersed into the EU environment from these uses. The European Chemicals Agency has looked into the possible risks from these uses to wildlife, livestock, the environment, and human health. It concluded that there are risks that are not adequately controlled and need to be addressed at the EU level.

We interviewed representatives from different organisations during an event organised by ECHA where stakeholders shared their views on a potential restriction on the use of lead in ammunition for hunting and sports shooting.

In this episode, we talk with Hans Steinkellner from the European Food Safety Authority. Hans has been involved in EFSA’s scientific opinion on lead in food and was in Helsinki to share their findings.

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Lead in shots, bullets, and fishing weights: what is the EU doing?

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Restriction of lead in outdoor shooting: Niels Kastrup, Danish Hunting Academy

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 13:00:00 +0000

Lead has been used in ammunition for hunting and sports shooting and in fishing tackle for centuries. It is estimated that each year around 100 000 tonnes of lead is dispersed into the EU environment from these uses. The European Chemicals Agency has looked into the possible risks from these uses to wildlife, livestock, the environment, and human health. It concluded that there are risks that are not adequately controlled and need to be addressed at the EU level.

We interviewed representatives from different organisations during an event organised by ECHA where stakeholders shared their views on a potential restriction on the use of lead in ammunition for hunting and sports shooting.

In this episode, we interview Mr. Niels Kastrup from the Danish Academy of Hunting.

Niels is first and foremost a hunter and his insight is based on the real-life experience of hunting in Denmark where there has been a total ban of lead in all shooting for the past 20 years.

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Lead in shots, bullets, and fishing weights: what is the EU doing?

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Restriction of lead in outdoor shooting: Nina Mikander, UN Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Water Birds (AEWA)

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 13:00:00 +0000

Lead has been used in ammunition for hunting and sports shooting and in fishing tackle for centuries. It is estimated that each year around 100 000 tonnes of lead is dispersed into the EU environment from these uses. The European Chemicals Agency has looked into the possible risks from these uses to wildlife, livestock, the environment, and human health. It concluded that there are risks that are not adequately controlled and need to be addressed at the EU level.

We interviewed representatives from different organisations during an event organised by ECHA where stakeholders shared their views on a potential restriction on the use of lead in ammunition for hunting and sports shooting.

We met with Nina Mikander from the UN environment program's AEWA secretariat.

AEWA is short for the agreement on the conservation of African Eurasian migratory water birds. It is an intergovernmental treaty dedicated to the conservation of migratory water birds and their habitats across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, Greenland and the Canadian archipelago. The European Union has become a contracting party to AEWA as of 1 January 2021.

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Lead in shots, bullets, and fishing weights: what is the EU doing?

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Restriction of lead in outdoor shooting: Ruth Cromie Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT)

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 13:00:00 +0000

We interviewed representatives from different organisations during an event organised by ECHA where stakeholders shared their views on a potential restriction on the use of lead in ammunition for hunting and sports shooting.

In this episode, we interview Dr. Ruth Cromie from the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust to share her views on the restriction of lead ammunition in hunting.

According to their website, WWT is a UK-based conservation charity that protects wetlands for wildlife and people. Ruth manages their ecosystem health unit that carries out a variety of different activities including surveillance for emerging and priority wetland diseases such as avian influenza and lead poisoning. They also carry out advocacy work to try and persuade shooters to use non-toxic ammunition.

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