The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published its fourth report on the operation of the REACH and Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulations.

SUMMARY

The report concludes that the framework continues to deliver tangible improvements in chemical safety while supporting innovation, competitiveness and a high level of protection for human health and the environment

Covering the period 2021–2025, its shows a shift towards the systematic examination of substances already in the database. This includes screening and prioritization of substances, generating targeted data, and applying structured risk management measures.

MORE INFORMATION

Key takeaways include:

• The share of registrations by EU manufacturers has declined, suggesting more substances are imported into the EU. Yet EU manufacturers still account for 45% of new substance registrations, confirming their continued role in driving innovation.
• Data submitted by companies remains incomplete in some cases, with delays in updating registration dossiers and persistent gaps for certain substances.
• Coordinated enforcement inspections continue to identify significant levels of non-compliance.

The workload of the Committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) is increasing, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of current processes.

Further improvements are needed in data quality, promptness of updates, regulatory efficiency, and coordination and enforcement across authorities.