Conflicts of interest
Independence is one of the core values of the Agency. In all of its processes, ECHA ensures that it is independent from all external interests and that impartial and science-based decisions are taken. Therefore, ECHA has to strike a delicate balance between getting the right expertise to guarantee high quality scientific decision making and at the same time strictly avoiding conflicting interests influencing (or seen to be influencing) the decision-making process.
A conflict of interest arises where the impartiality and objectivity of a decision, opinion or recommendation of the Agency, including its bodies, is or might in the public perception, be compromised by an interest held by, or entrusted to, an individual working for the Agency.
To be able to detect, monitor and handle potential conflicting interests, all members, their advisers and invited experts of the ECHA bodies and networks, the observers participating to their meetings, the staff of the ECHA Secretariat and of the Board of Appeal, and any third parties working for the Agency need to make a declaration of interests, which could be considered to be prejudicial to their independence.
For more information, please consult the ECHA Policy for Managing potential Conflicts of Interests.
