Companies and authority agencies in the EU are slowing phasing out the usage of dangerous chemicals and substances, thanks to Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation, according to the European Commission in a review published earlier this month. REACH has issued 18 restrictions for various dangerous substance groups while providing safer alternatives, and also has promoted non-animal testing for chemical hazard assessment, providing approximately €40 million ($49.7 million) per year between 2012 and 2016 for research on alternative testing methods.

In the review, the Commission concluded that REACH is steadily attaining its initial expectations, although there is still some progress to be made. The review stated that the registration process for companies, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises, to authorize the usage of certain chemicals needs to be more efficient and less bureaucratic to help encourage companies to update their dossiers of registered chemical substances. It also stated that substances of concern in the supply chain are to be monitored, with the possibility of creating a tracking system to improve the usage of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). The Commission, European Chemicals Agency and member states are also called to facilitate a substitution for SVHCs through the establishment of collaborative networks and encourage R&D investments in more sustainable innovations. The Commission will consider further recommendations by the first quarter of 2019.

Source: European Commission