Nimetamine

Ref. Ares(2024)5023105 - 11/07/2024 EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR INTERNAL MARKET, INDUSTRY, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SMES DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR ENVIRONMENT EUROPEAN CHEMICALS AGENCY Brussels, GROW.F1/AEA/nt grow.f.1(2024)5121684 Their Excellencies The Deputy Permanent Representatives of the Member States to the European Union Sent by email only Subject: Nomination of members to Committees for Risk Assessment and Socio- economic Analysis under the REACH Regulation Your Excellency, We are writing to address a matter of importance concerning the implementation of our European chemicals legislation, which falls under the remit of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Effective implementation is essential for a greener, safer, and more competitive Europe. It ensures the highest protection against hazardous chemicals and fosters innovation across Member States, as well as a unified European approach to chemicals safety. ECHA plays a pivotal role in these processes and relies on the work of its committees and working groups, in particular the Committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC). These Committees are pillars of scientific scrutiny and evaluation within the EU's regulatory framework for chemicals. They deliver transparent, independent, and high- quality scientific opinions, providing a solid basis for decision-making, contributing to the protection of human health and the environment, and enabling the free circulation of chemicals on the internal market. Their role is crucial in regulating chemicals with direct impact on citizens’ daily life and health (1) and in maintaining the competitiveness of European industries, by ensuring that the implementation of regulations is consistent, scientifically robust and economically viable. We would like to flag the current challenges these committees are facing, in regard to their functioning and resourcing. The tasks assigned to them over time, and particularly since 2020, have been increasing in complexity and scope, necessitating a diverse array of expertise and sufficient capacity. (1) for example bisphenols, lead, glyphosate, chemicals in tattoo inks, microplastics and the current proposed ban on Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË – Tel. +32 22991111 According to the EU REACH Regulation2, Committee members are nominated by Member States, who are required to provide support and technical assistance to the members of the committees. But ECHA is currently confronted with a historically low level of committees’ membership. Some Member States have not nominated members to these committees. It is therefore imperative to address this situation, which poses significant challenges to the committees' ability to fulfil their mandates. In recent years, ECHA’s Management Board, which includes members representing all EU Member States, as well as the heads of Member States’ competent authorities have expressed strong concerns in this respect. Some measures have been taken to enhance the Committees’ efficacy and workability, including increasing membership and the adequacy of compensation for the authorities employing the committee members. But despite these joint efforts that the Commission has undertaken with ECHA, the continued effectiveness of the committees hinges upon the active engagement and support of Member States. We are extending our thank you for your valuable contribution to date. At the same time, we kindly ask all Member States to nominate two candidates per committee, ensure adequate support for such nominations, and that candidates possess the requisite qualifications, expertise and working time, to serve as effective and active members. ECHA stands ready to assist Member States in identifying suitable nominees for RAC and SEAC, as well as to support members as they carry out their role. Your commitment and contribution would significantly contribute to the sustainability of the EU’s regulatory framework for chemicals, the protection of health and the environment, as well as well to the sustainable competitiveness of the European chemicals industry. We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your positive response. Thank you for your cooperation. Yours sincerely, (e-sign) (e-sign) (e-sign) Kerstin Jorna Florika Fink-Hooijer Sharon Mc Guinness Director-General Director-General Executive Director DG Internal Market, DG Environment European Chemicals Agency Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Attachment: RAC and SEAC membership per country and extract from the REACH Regulation Copies: Members of the Management Board 2 Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006. 2 Attachment: RAC and SEAC membership per country Country RAC SEAC Austria 2 members 1 member Belgium 1 member 1 member Bulgaria 2 members - Croatia 2 members 1 member Cyprus 1 member 2 members Czechia 1 member - Denmark 2 members 1 member Estonia - 1 member Finland 2 members 1 member France 2 members 2 members Germany 2 members 2 members Greece 2 members 1 member Hungary 1 member 1 member Iceland - - Ireland 1 member 1 member Italy 2 members 2 members Latvia 2 members 1 member Liechtenstein - - Lithuania 2 members 2 members Luxembourg 2 members 1 member Malta - - Netherlands 2 members 2 members Norway 2 members 1 member Poland 2 members - Portugal 1 member 1 member 3  Country RAC SEAC Romania 1 member - Slovak Republic 1 member - Slovenia 2 members 2 members Spain 2 members 2 members Sweden 2 members 1 member Article 85 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH): “1. Each Member State may nominate candidates to membership of the Committee for Risk Assessment. The Executive Director shall establish a list of the nominees, which shall be published on the Agency's website, without prejudice to Article 88(1). The Management Board shall appoint the members of the Committee from this list, including at least one member but not more than two from the nominees of each Member State that has nominated candidates. Members shall be appointed for their role and experience in performing the tasks specified in Article 77(3). 2. Each Member State may nominate candidates to membership of the Committee for Socio-economic Analysis. The Executive Director shall establish a list of the nominees, which shall be published on the Agency's website, without prejudice to Article 88(1). The Management Board shall appoint the members of the Committee from this list, including at least one member but not more than two from the nominees of each Member State that has nominated candidates. Members shall be appointed for their role and experience in performing the tasks specified in Article 77(3).” 4 Electronically signed on 09/07/2024 09:55 (UTC+02) in accordance with Article 11 of Commission Decision (EU) 2021/2121 Saatja: Tiiu Noobel </O=ESTONIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS/OU=EXCHANGE ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=TIIU NOOBEL4B7> Saaja: Tiiu Noobel Teema: FW: Nomination of members to Committees for Risk Assessment and Socio-economic Analysis under the REACH Regulation From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2024 2:11 PM To: Esindus EL juures üldaadress <[email protected]> Cc: [email protected]; ECHA Management Board <[email protected]> Subject: Nomination of members to Committees for Risk Assessment and Socio-economic Analysis under the REACH Regulation Dear Ambassador, Please find attached a letter signed by the DG GROW Director-General Kerstin Jorna, by the DG ENV Director-General Florika Fink-Hooijer and by the ECHA Executive Director Sharon Mc Guinness concerning the above mentioned subject. Yours faithfully, European Commission DG for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs REACH Saatja: "Webdesktop" <[email protected]> Saaja: "SM Info", [email protected], [email protected], "Elen Ohov", "Tiina Rootamm", [email protected] Teema: Webdesktop: Nimetamine - Committees for Risk Assessment and Socio-economic Analysis under the REACH Regulation Kuupäev: 2024-07-12 09:50 Tere! Edastan Komisjoni kirja. EV AEEL juures reg. number: 10.2-11/689 Reg. kuupäev: 12.07.2024 Sisu: Nomination of members to Committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Socio-economic Analysis (SEAC) under the REACH Regulation -- Heade soovidega Tiiu Noobel sekretär, EV alaline esindus EL juures +32 2227 4337