ECHA consults on three-year draft work programme

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has opened a public consultation on its draft work programme for 2011-2013. In a statement, the agency says the period will see important developments in the implementation of the REACH and classification, labelling and packaging Regulations including:

• The acceleration of its scientific evaluation activities
• The start of substance evaluation performed by Member States and coordinated by ECHA
• The establishment of a classification and labelling inventory for substances
• The second REACH registration deadline with its updates of guidance, tools and manuals
• The first applications under the new authorisation procedure for substances of very high concern

ECHA adds that there is still uncertainty regarding the number of registration dossiers that companies will submit by this year’s deadline, and as a result its plan may need to be adjusted should new evidence appear on the expected number of registrations.

The public consultation runs until 9 May 2010. The Management Board should approve the final version at its June meeting, and the programme is scheduled to be adopted in October 2010.

• ECHA press statement
• ECHA work programme 2011-2013
• Public consultation