Helsinki, 26 February 2025
The European Chemicals Agency has updated its annual statistics on evaluation progress. Between 2009 and 2024, it checked the compliance of 15,500 registrations, representing 23 % of all submitted registration dossiers and covering 3 200 substances. Regarding high-volume chemicals registered at quantities of 100 tonnes or more per year, 34 % have been checked. This helps ensure that the safety data on chemicals is up to date, protecting people and the environment from their hazards. Based on the evaluations, ECHA has updated its recommendations to registrants on how to improve their dossiers.
In 2024, the Agency carried out 313 compliance checks, covering almost 2 000 registrations and addressing 272 individual substances. These checks focused on those registration dossiers that may have data gaps. As a result, ECHA sent 208 decisions to companies, requesting additional data to clarify long-term effects of chemicals on human health or the environment.
ECHA also examined 161 testing proposals and sent out 92 decisions, addressing the tests proposed by industry to ensure the safe use of the substance.
To follow up information requests sent to companies, ECHA checks whether the provided information complies with the REACH requirements. In 2024, this evaluation was concluded for 241 substances. In about 70 % of the cases, companies provided the requested information to the Agency. The remaining 30 % were notified to Member States for enforcement and will be followed up.
The Agency also adopted three substance evaluation decisions prepared by the EU Member States, requesting further information to assess the safety of substances of potential concern.
Background
Evaluation is a joint activity of ECHA and the Member States authorities to ensure that industry complies with their obligations and provides the necessary data in their registration dossiers. It also aims to identify substances that need further regulatory action to ensure safe use.
Joint Evaluation Action Plan
In 2019, ECHA and the European Commission decided on a joint plan to improve compliance of REACH registrations. The activities of the plan were closed in 2024, and ECHA will now follow up on its recommendations.