European Chemicals Agency

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA; /ˈɛkə/ EK-ə) is an agency of the European Union working for the safe use of chemicals. It manages the technical and administrative aspects of the implementation of the European Union regulation called Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). ECHA is the driving force among regulatory authorities in implementing the EU's chemicals legislation. ECHA has to ascertain that companies comply with the legislation, advances the safe use of chemicals, provides information on chemicals and addresses chemicals of concern. It is located in Helsinki, Finland and is operational since 2007. ECHA is an independent and mature regulatory agency established by REACH. It is not a subsidiary entity of the European Commission.

The agency is headed by Executive Director Sharon McGuinness.

The ECHA was created by European Union regulation dating from 18 December 2006 to manage the then-new legislation to regulate the manufacture and use of chemical substances. According to a subsequent audit by the European Court of Auditors its objectives are

To ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment, including the promotion of alternative methods for assessment of hazards relating to substances, as well as the free circulation of substances on the internal market while enhancing competitiveness and innovation.

To ensure that chemicals legislation and the decision making processes and scientific basis underlying it have credibility with all stakeholders and the public.

To coordinate communication concerning the REACH Regulation and in its implementation.

An initial group of 40 staff seconded from Brussels began to set up the Agency in Helsinki on 1 June 2007. The work associated with REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) was expected to require extensive use of computer systems to store the data on individual chemicals, much of which would be supplied by companies that produced these materials. Hence, from the outset there was a concern that there might be a conflict of interest if ECHA employees had previously worked in industry, or did so after a time with the Agency.

The REACH regulation requires companies to provide information on the hazards, risks and safe use of chemical substances that they manufacture or import. Companies register this information with ECHA and it is then freely available on their website. Thousands of the most hazardous and the most commonly used substances have been registered. The information is technical but gives detail on the impact of each chemical on people and the environment. This also gives European consumers the right to ask retailers whether the goods they buy contain dangerous substances.