ECHA, the management arm of REACH, has announced an open consultation period on its draft of the document called MAWP or Multi-Annual Work programme. The agency seeks public comment to better be able to prepare for the glut of registrations beyond those anticipated when REACH registration deadlines were first established. The public has until May 9, 2010 to submit comments on the draft. Above is a snapshot of the table of contents of the MAWP draft. The rest of the document can be seen at:http://echa.europa.eu/doc/consultations/work_programme/mb_03_2010_public_consultation_mawp_2011_2013.pdf

What is ECHA’s MAWP? The Multi-Annual Work Programme of ECHA provides an overview of the agency’s activities for the next 3 years, 2011-2013. The MAWP was prepared months in advance of the November 20, 2010 registration deadline, and since that is the case, ECHA was not as apprised of the number of registration dossiers that companies would be submitting by this time. In order to better determine ECHA’s workload and finances for the upcoming 3 years, the Agency needs feedback from the public on what the anticipated inflow of information will be. As Geert Dancet, Executive director writes in the Forward of this document “The successful implementation of REACH depends on cooperation based on trust between ECHA and its institutional partners.” They are very much looking for feedback on this document and will publish these for all to see at: www.echa.eurpoa.eu.

ECHA’s Mission in 2011-2013 ECHA’s mission is to manage all REACH and CLP (see acronym list, bottom of page), tasks by coordinating the necessary activities to ensure a consistent implementation at Community level. Also, to provide Member States and European Institutions with best possible scientific advice.on safety and socio-economic aspects of using chemicals safely.

ECHA has identified its key priorities for the years ahead and the overview of Milestones for ECHA 2011-2013 are provided here.

What are the milestones for REACH 2010-2013?

Milestones

2010

Progress report on evaluation by 28 February 2010 (Art. 54)

First 5 year MS-COM report on the operation of REACH by 1 June (Art. 117.1): this first 5 year report to include enforcement aspects (Art. 127)

Transitional measures regarding restrictions end on 1 June (Art. 137)

First registration deadline for phase-in substances >1000 t/y, R50/53 >100 t/y and CMR cat.1+2, by 30 November (Art. 23.111)

2011

Classification & Labeling notifications in accordance with CLP Regulation, Art. 40 by 3 January

Progress report on evaluation by 28 February 2011 (Art. 54)

Notifications for SVHCs in articles start from 1 June, six months after a substance is put on the ‘”candidate list”‘ (Art. 7.2)

First 5 year ECHA-COM report on the operation of REACH by 1 June (Art. 117.2)

First 3 year ECHA-COM report on non-animal test methods and strategies by 1 June (Art. 117.3)

First draft Community Rolling Action Plan for substance evaluation to be submitted to MS by 1 December (Art. 44.2)

2012

Study on the communication of information to the general public on the safe use of substances and mixtures (Art. 34 of the CLP Regulation) by 20 January

Progress report on evaluation by 28 February 2012 (Art. 54)

First 5 year COM general report on the operation of REACH and funding for development and evaluation of alternative test methods to be published by 1 June (Art. 117.4): this report to include COM review of registration requirement 1-10t/y as basis for possible legislative proposals (Art. 138.3)

COM review of scope of the REACH Regulation, as basis for possible legislative proposals by 1 June (Art. 138.6)

Review of ECHA by 1 June (Art. 75.2)

Deadline for ECHA’s draft decisions on testing proposals for registrations received by 1 December 2010, on 1 December (Art. 43.2.a)

2013

Progress report on evaluation by 28 February 2013 (Art. 54)

Registration deadline for phase-in substances >100 t/y by 1 June

More on REACH can be found at: http://blog.safetec.net/2010/01/what-is-reach-regulatory-legislation.html

By JeanMarie Calvillo, Ph.D, Safetec Regulatory Specialist