The Member State Committee (MSC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) held a review of its approach for prioritising substances for inclusion in the Authorisation List during its 87th meeting from 8-10 October 2024. The Committee plans to continue these discussions in its December meeting, focusing on refining the approach to enhance regulatory efficiency under REACH.
Ongoing Debate on Prioritisation Approach
The prioritisation approach used for identifying substances of very high concern (SVHCs) for the Authorisation List has been a key focus for MSC. During the October meeting, members discussed possible revisions to the existing framework, emphasising the need to account for the potential workload generated by authorisation applications and other regulatory actions.
According to the Secretariat (SECR), the current approach has occasionally led to a bottleneck in processing applications, which can hinder timely risk management actions. This is particularly true for substances with broad industrial use. SECR highlighted that revisions would aim to mitigate these challenges by incorporating new regulatory developments, such as ongoing restrictions under the European Commission’s roadmap.
Next Steps and Timeline
The Committee agreed that further discussion and more detailed proposals are needed before a final revision can be implemented. This will be explored further in the MSC’s December 2024 session, which will include a draft revision proposal prepared by SECR.
In preparation, MSC members were invited to submit their written comments on the proposal by 28 October 2024.
Impact on Future Recommendations
Another point of contention during the meeting was the intersection of these potential revisions with the ongoing 12th recommendation for substance inclusion. Some MSC members expressed concerns over the procedural delays this could cause, given the new principles may alter the criteria for prioritising substances currently under consideration.
However, members acknowledged the necessity of re-evaluating the prioritisation strategy to avoid overburdening the authorisation process, which has become an issue with certain widely-used substances. These discussions are expected to influence how future recommendations for Annex XIV of REACH are made.
Supporting Information
The MSC's role in overseeing the Authorisation List is crucial in ensuring that hazardous chemicals are properly regulated within the EU. The current system, which scores substances based on criteria outlined in Article 58(3) of REACH, is undergoing revision to improve its efficiency and adaptability to evolving regulatory requirements.
Members of the Committee, including stakeholders from environmental and health organisations, have expressed both support and reservations about the proposed changes, with some advocating for a more streamlined process to prevent regulatory delays.
As MSC prepares for its next meeting, the anticipated revisions to the substance prioritisation approach could reshape how the Authorisation List is managed. This will be a pivotal topic in the December session, with potential long-term implications for chemical regulation within the EU.
