Sinochem New Network News - On November 13, the Council of the European Union announced that a legislative proposal aimed at simplifying the EU's chemical risk assessment process had been formally adopted on the same day.
The Council of the European Union stated that the "One Substance, One Assessment" (OSOA) package will more effectively protect human health and the environment, and shorten the time lag between identifying potential risks and taking necessary regulatory actions. The package will cover substances related to medical devices, toys, food, pesticides, and biocides. The EU will establish a new centralized data platform operated by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), which will integrate existing data from more than 70 EU legislative acts to become a "one-stop shop" for chemical information queries. The Council emphasized that the platform will also include a database of safer alternatives to substances of very high concern (SVHCs), facilitating the transition to safer and more sustainable substances.
The OSOA package comprises three legislative documents: first, a regulation establishing a common data platform for chemicals; second, two regulations and directives respectively aiming to strengthen cooperation among relevant EU institutions in the chemical sector (including the European Chemicals Agency, ECHA) and reallocate scientific and technological tasks. The vote on November 13 marked the completion of the legislative process. The three documents are soon to be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force 20 days after their publication.
