The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has updated its report on key regulatory challenges, providing more detailed insights into areas where scientific research is needed to safeguard people and the environment from hazardous chemicals.

Helsinki, 12 June 2024 – Advancing the regulation of hazardous chemicals in the EU requires further scientific research and the development of new methodologies.

In 2023, ECHA outlined its key research priorities, aligning them with the EU’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS). This initiative is part of the Agency’s efforts to tackle major regulatory challenges under the Partnership for the Assessment of Risk from Chemicals (PARC). Additional research is particularly needed in the following areas:

• Protection against highly hazardous chemicals: Neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and endocrine disruption.
• Addressing chemical pollution in the environment: Bioaccumulation, assessing the sensitivity of non-bee pollinators (NBP) to biocides, expanding biodiversity protection through New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), and improving methods for monitoring chemicals in the environment.
• Reducing reliance on animal testing: Read-across and NAMs, in vitro/in silico absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME), Physiologically-Based Kinetic (PBK) models, as well as short- and long-term fish toxicity and carcinogenicity studies.
• Enhancing access to chemical data: Research on polymers, micro- and nano-sized materials, and the development of new analytical methods to support regulatory enforcement.

Dr. Sharon McGuinness, ECHA’s Executive Director, stated:

“We have updated this report to provide more in-depth information on regulatory areas requiring further research, such as bioaccumulation and the advancement of toxicokinetic models. Our hope is that the research community will respond positively to this call.”
“This update aligns with ECHA’s Strategy Statement 2024-2028, which aims to expand knowledge on chemical safety and promote alternative methods for assessing chemical hazards and risks.”

Background

The key regulatory challenges report is part of an evolving research and development agenda designed to support and inspire PARC and the wider research community. The list of research priorities is not exhaustive. The report reflects ECHA’s current focus areas as well as future tasks within its mandate.

PARC is a seven-year EU-wide research and innovation programme under Horizon Europe, aimed at advancing research, sharing knowledge, and enhancing expertise in chemical risk assessment. ECHA’s role in PARC is to ensure that funded scientific research addresses pressing regulatory challenges and contributes to the EU’s chemical risk assessment framework.