The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) started operating on 1 June 2007. It has been fully operational since 1 June 2008. The Agency’s mission is to ensure consistency in chemicals management across the EU and to provide technical and scientific advice, guidance and information on chemicals.
The Agency is responsible for coordinating the duties introduced by the new REACH Regulation. The mission of the European Chemicals Agency is to:
These processes are designed to provide additional information on chemicals, to ensure their safe use and to enhance the competitiveness of the European industry.
One of the Agency's first tasks is to give sufficient information and guidance to companies - especially small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) - on how to comply with the new REACH requirements. To this end, the Agency operates a multilingual website. The website serves as a single access point for general information on chemicals, REACH guidance documents and other tools which help companies complying with the new legislation.
The European Chemicals Agency comprises:
* A Management Board, responsible for adopting the financial planning, work programme, annual reporting.
* An Executive Director, the legal representative of the Agency, responsible for the day to day management and administration of the Agency, including responsibility over its finances. The Executive Director reports to the Management Board.
* A Secretariat to support the Committees and Forum and undertake work on registration and evaluation processes as well as preparation of guidance, maintenance of databases and provision of information.
* A Member State Committee to resolve differences of opinion on draft decisions proposed by the Agency or Member States and make proposals for identification of substances of very high concern.
* A Risk Assessment Committee to prepare opinions on evaluation, on applications for authorisation, on proposals for restrictions and on classification and labelling.
* A Committee for Socio-economic Analysis to prepare opinions on applications for authorisation, on proposals for restrictions and on questions relating to the socio-economic impact of proposed legislative action.
* A Forum on enforcement matters to coordinate a network of Member States' competent authorities responsible for enforcement.
* A Board of Appeal to decide on appeals against decisions taken by the Agency.
For further information please consult - the website of the ECHA
Source: Webiste of the European Chemicals Agency (www.echa.eu) and the website of the European Commission (http://europa.eu/agencies/community_agencies/echa/index_en.htm).
© Bureau for Chemical Substances and Preparations 2007–2009
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