Member States to evaluate 39 priority substances in 2016

Member States to evaluate 39 priority substances in 2016

ECHA/NA/16/11

ECHA has adopted the updated Community rolling action plan (CoRAP) for 2016-2018 with 138 substances to be evaluated. Registrants of these substances are encouraged to coordinate their actions and to interact early  with the evaluating Member States.

Helsinki, 22 March 2016 – ECHA has adopted the CoRAP update for 2016-2018, based on the favourable opinion of the Member State Committee. According to the plan, 22 Member States will carry out substance evaluation in the coming three years for 54 newly-selected substances and 84 substances from the previous CoRAP update. From today, the Member States have 12 months to evaluate the 39 substances specified for 2016.

The initial concerns about these substances are, in many cases, related to potential persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) properties, suspected endocrine disruption or carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic (CMR) properties in combination with wide dispersive or consumer uses. Justification documents explain the grounds for the initial concerns for each substance.

In addition, other concerns on the substance may be identified and addressed during the evaluation. Where necessary, the evaluating Member State will prepare a draft decision for requesting further information to clarify the suspected risks.

The Member States, the European Commission and ECHA have agreed on the recommendations on best practice for interaction between registrants and the evaluating Member States during substance evaluation. These are available on ECHA's website. The registrants of substances listed on the CoRAP will in any case have an opportunity to comment before any decision to request further information is taken. Such draft decisions will be reviewed by the other Member States and ECHA and, when necessary, agreed by the Member State Committee before ECHA issues the final decision.  

The CoRAP update for 2016-2018 was prepared in close cooperation with the Member States, taking into account the agreed risk-based criteria for the selection of substances. The draft update has been available on ECHA's website since 28 October 2015. In comparison to the draft, evaluation of a number of substances has been postponed,  two substances were withdrawn on request of the evaluating Member State and one substance was added. All changes are recorded in the opinion of the MSC on ECHA's annual CoRAP update (2016-2018).