Site search

Global links

Sister sites

... 24. In preparation for this Regulation, the Commission has launched REACH Implementation Projects (RIPs), involving relevant experts from stakeholder groups. Some of those projects aim at developing draft guidelines and tools which should help the Commission, the Agency, Member States, manufacturers, importers and downstream users of substances to fulfil, in concrete terms, their obligations under this Regulation. This work should enable the Commission and the Agency to make available appropriate technical guidance, in due time, with regard to the deadlines introduced by this Regulation. ...

... 31. The Commission, in close cooperation with industry, Member States and other relevant stakeholders, should develop guidance to fulfil the requirements under this Regulation related to preparations (in particular with regard to safety data sheets incorporating exposure scenarios) including assessment of substances incorporated into special preparations – such as metals incorporated in alloys. In doing so, the Commission should take full account of the work that will have been carried out within the framework of the RIPs and should include the necessary guidance on this matter in the overall REACH guidance package. This guidance should be available before the application of this Regulation. ...

... 40. The Commission, Member States, industry and other stakeholders should continue to contribute to the promotion of alternative test methods on an international and national level including computer supported methodologies, in vitro methodologies, such as appropriate, those based on toxicogenomics, and other relevant methodologies. The Community's strategy to promote alternative test methods is a priority and the Commission should ensure that within its future Research Framework Programmes and initiatives such as the Community Action Plan on the Protection and Welfare of Animals 2006-2010 this remains a priority topic. Participation of stakeholders and initiatives involving all interested parties should be sought. ...

... 40. The Commission, Member States, industry and other stakeholders should continue to contribute to the promotion of alternative test methods on an international and national level including computer supported methodologies, in vitro methodologies, such as appropriate, those based on toxicogenomics, and other relevant methodologies. The Community's strategy to promote alternative test methods is a priority and the Commission should ensure that within its future Research Framework Programmes and initiatives such as the Community Action Plan on the Protection and Welfare of Animals 2006-2010 this remains a priority topic. Participation of stakeholders and initiatives involving all interested parties should be sought. ...

... 47. In accordance with Directive 86/609/EEC, it is necessary to replace, reduce or refine testing on vertebrate animals. Implementation of this Regulation should be based on the use of alternative test methods, suitable for the assessment of health and environmental hazards of chemicals, wherever possible. The use of animals should be avoided by recourse to alternative methods validated by the Commission or international bodies, or recognised by the Commission or the Agency as appropriate to meet the information requirements under this Regulation. To this end, the Commission, following consultation with relevant stakeholders, should propose to amend the future Commission Regulation on test methods or this Regulation, where appropriate, to replace, reduce or refine animal testing. The Commission and the Agency should ensure that reduction of animal testing is a key consideration in the development and maintenance of guidance for stakeholders and in the Agency's own procedures. ...

... 47. In accordance with Directive 86/609/EEC, it is necessary to replace, reduce or refine testing on vertebrate animals. Implementation of this Regulation should be based on the use of alternative test methods, suitable for the assessment of health and environmental hazards of chemicals, wherever possible. The use of animals should be avoided by recourse to alternative methods validated by the Commission or international bodies, or recognised by the Commission or the Agency as appropriate to meet the information requirements under this Regulation. To this end, the Commission, following consultation with relevant stakeholders, should propose to amend the future Commission Regulation on test methods or this Regulation, where appropriate, to replace, reduce or refine animal testing. The Commission and the Agency should ensure that reduction of animal testing is a key consideration in the development and maintenance of guidance for stakeholders and in the Agency's own procedures. ...

... 65. In addition, it is necessary to instil confidence in the general quality of registrations and to ensure that the public at large as well as all stakeholders in the chemicals industry have confidence that natural or legal persons are meeting the obligations placed upon them. Accordingly, it is appropriate to provide for recording which information has been reviewed by an assessor possessing appropriate experience, and for a percentage of registrations to be checked for compliance by the Agency. ...

... 95. The Agency should be central to ensuring that chemicals legislation and the decision-making processes and scientific basis underlying it have credibility with all stakeholders and the public. The Agency should also play a pivotal role in coordinating communication around this Regulation and in its implementation. The confidence in the Agency of the Community institutions, the Member States, the general public and interested parties is therefore essential. For this reason, it is vital to ensure its independence, high scientific, technical and regulatory capacities, as well as transparency and efficiency. ...

... 97. The effective communication of information on chemical risks and how they can be managed is an essential part of the system established by this Regulation. Best practice from the chemicals and other sectors should be considered in the preparation of guidance by the Agency to all stakeholders. ...

... 98. In the interests of efficiency, the staff of the Agency Secretariat should perform essentially technical-administrative and scientific tasks without calling on the scientific and technical resources of the Member States. The Executive Director should ensure the efficient execution of the Agency's tasks in an independent manner. To ensure that the Agency fulfils its role, the composition of the Management Board should be designed to represent each Member State, the Commission and other interested parties appointed by the Commission in order to ensure the involvement of stakeholders, and the European Parliament and to secure the highest standard of competence and a broad range of relevant expertise in chemicals safety or the regulation of chemicals, whilst ensuring that there is relevant expertise in the field of general financial and legal matters. ...

... 119. Apart from their participation in the implementation of Community legislation, Member State competent authorities should, because of their closeness to stakeholders in the Member States, play a role in the exchange of information on risks of substances and on the obligations of natural or legal persons under chemicals legislation. At the same time, close cooperation between the Agency, the Commission and the competent authorities of the Member States is necessary to ensure the coherence and efficiency of the global communication process. ...

... 127. It is appropriate for the provisions of this Regulation to enter into force in a staggered way to smooth the transition to the new system. Moreover, a gradual entry into force of the provisions should allow all parties involved, authorities, natural or legal persons as well as stakeholders, to focus resources in the preparation for new duties at the right times. ...

... 2. These methods shall be regularly reviewed and improved with a view to reducing testing on vertebrate animals and the number of animals involved. The Commission, following consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall, as soon as possible, make a proposal, if appropriate, to amend the Commission Regulation on test methods adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 133(4), and the Annexes of this Regulation, if relevant, so as to replace, reduce or refine animal testing. Amendments to that Commission Regulation shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure specified in paragraph 3 and amendments to the Annexes of this Regulation shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 131. ...

... (i) providing guidance to stakeholders including Member State competent authorities on communication to the public of information on the risks and safe use of substances, on their own, in preparations or in articles; ...

... (k) preparing explanatory information on this Regulation for other stakeholders; ...

... (g) liaising with industry, taking particular account of the specific needs of SMEs, and other stakeholders, including relevant international organisations, as necessary; ...

... 4. The Committees shall aim to have a broad range of relevant expertise among their members. To this end each Committee may co-opt a maximum of five additional members chosen on the basis of their specific competence. Members of the Committees shall be appointed for a term of three years which shall be renewable. The members of the Management Board may not be members of the Committees. The members of each Committee may be accompanied by advisers on scientific, technical or regulatory matters. The Executive Director or his representative and representatives of the Commission shall be entitled to attend all the meetings of the Committees and working groups convened by the Agency or its committees as observers. Stakeholders may also be invited to attend meetings as observers, as appropriate, at the request of the Committee members, or the Management Board. ...

... 1. Each Member State shall appoint, for a three-year term, which shall be renewable, one member to the Forum. Members shall be chosen for their role and experience in enforcement of chemicals legislation and shall maintain relevant contacts with the Member State competent authorities. The Forum shall aim to have a broad range of relevant expertise among its members. To this end the Forum may coopt a maximum of five additional members chosen on the basis of their specific competence. These members shall be appointed for a term of three years, which shall be renewable. Members of the Management Board may not be members of the Forum. The members of the Forum may be accompanied by scientific and technical advisers. The Executive Director of the Agency or his representative and representatives of the Commission shall be entitled to attend all the meetings of the Forum and its working groups. Stakeholders may also be invited to attend meetings as observers, as appropriate, at the request of Forum members, or the Management Board. ...

... Contacts with stakeholder organisations ...

... The Management Board shall, in agreement with the Commission, develop appropriate contacts between the Agency and relevant stakeholder organisations. ...

... The competent authorities of the Member States shall inform the general public about the risks arising from substances where this is considered necessary for the protection of human health or the environment. The Agency, in consultation with competent authorities and stakeholders and drawing as appropriate on relevant best practice, shall provide guidance for the communication of information on the risks and safe use of chemical substances, on their own, in preparations or in articles, with a view to coordinating Member States in these activities. ...