New commissioners to discuss key issues with ECHA and other stakeholders

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has announced that Antonio Tajani, vice president of the European Commission and commissioner for DG Industry and Entrepreneurship, and Janez Potočnik, commissioner DG Environment, will visit the agency on 25 March. Both newly-appointed commissioners said in their hearings to the European Parliament that they planned to visit the agency early in their tenures (CW 19 January 2010 and CW 14 January 2010). It is understood they may announce plans on how to accelerate REACH implementation and move forward on a number of issues such as PBT/vPvB criteria and guidance on authorization and substitution.

As well as meeting with ECHA’s management board and staff, the commissioners will have the opportunity to discuss priorities for EU chemicals policy in the future with various European stakeholder organisations, including industry associations, NGOs, environmental associations, animal welfare groups and trade unions, that have been invited by ECHA.