The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has announced a forthcoming enforcement project. This initiative, spearheaded by ECHA's Enforcement Forum, will scrutinize the compliance of chemical suppliers with poison centre notification requirements. Scheduled to commence in January 2025, this six-month project seeks to ensure that hazardous chemical mixtures are adequately reported to national authorities, thus enhancing the effectiveness of emergency responses.
Objective: Enhancing Emergency Response through Accurate Notifications
The enforcement project emanates from a crucial need to safeguard human health against the risks posed by hazardous chemical mixtures. By mandating suppliers to notify relevant authorities about these mixtures, the initiative aims to equip poison centres with accurate information. This data is vital for providing informed advice to citizens or medical personnel during emergencies, ensuring timely and appropriate intervention.
Inspection Scope and Methodology
Inspectors are set to verify the submission of poison centre notifications by suppliers, alongside a thorough examination of product labels and Safety Data Sheets where necessary. The specific details regarding the scope of these checks are expected to be defined in the forthcoming months, with a project report slated for release at the end of 2025.
Focus on Online Sales: A New Dimension of Enforcement
In addition to the poison centre notification checks, the Enforcement Forum has delineated the scope for its next harmonised enforcement project (REF-13), which will target online sales. This project, also kicking off in 2025, will involve inspectors scrutinizing online products to ensure compliance with the REACH and POPs regulations, as well as the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation. Special attention will be given to products that fall under the Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS) Directive.
Continuous Collaboration and Future Meetings
The March 2024 meeting facilitated an exchange of insights and initiatives among members of the Forum and its biocidal products regulation subgroup (BPRS), highlighting ongoing projects and enforcement activities at the national level. The Forum and BPRS, which met remotely from 14-22 March, plan to reconvene in June 2024 for further discussions.
