Get to Know ECHA Updates Safety and Testing Standards

Aug 5, 2015 6:00 AM ET

Get to Know ECHA Updates Safety and Testing Standards

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has recently updated their safety and testing standards for their Guidance on Information Requirements and Chemical Safety Assessment. This includes two sections that analyze “skin corrosion/irritation, serious eye damage/eye irritation, respiratory tract corrosion/irritation and reproductive toxicity”. The nature and severity of the impact to these critical systems was carefully analyzed to provide the filer and end-user a better and safer experience.

The update, as presented from the ECHA, also contained the inclusion of and updates to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) test guidelines that provided a more comprehensive approach to the testing. These changes were implemented to better address risk management aims so that filers can better address their obligations to conform to Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) standards.

Furthermore, the new standards also help address gaps that might have previously been in filers reports and provides them insights on how to get their reports up to REACH requirements. This upgrade also listed methodologies for future chemical safety reports and will have an impact on safety proposals in the near future.

With the constant shifting in REACH regulations, it is important for companies and publishers to annotate changes to policy and testing standards. This will impact not only the filers of the safety reports, but also the end-user of the product. To find out how you can stay on top of shifting changes to REACH policies, click here for a complimentary assessment.