In this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, Adam Elwan is joined by Roberto Scazzola, Chair of the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC), and María Ottati, Chair of the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC). They talk about the September committee meetings, discussing the scientific evaluation of the proposal to restrict PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) across multiple industries, including petroleum, mining, textiles, and food packaging.    Additionally, they address the proposal...

In this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, we explore the vital work carried out by the European Chemicals Agency’s Member State Committee. Host Päivi Jokiniemi is joined by Katinka van der Jagt, Chair of the Member State Committee, alongside two of the committee's national members, Katarzyna Malkiewicz from the Swedish Chemicals Agency KEMI, and Agnieszka Dudra from the Polish Bureau for Chemical Substances. The European Union, a partnership of 27 countries, is committed to building a...

In this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, host Adam Elwan is joined by Roberto Scazzola, the Chair of ECHA's Risk Assessment Committee and Maria Ottati who chairs the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee to discuss the ongoing efforts and challenges in regulating harmful chemicals. The episode focuses on the universal PFAS restriction proposal, addressing its persistency and health impacts, and the committees' approach to evaluating different sectors in batches. They also explore the...

ECHA’s Biocidal Products Committee met during the last week of May 2024 and adopted altogether 18 opinions. Join Päivi Jokiniemi and Joost van Galen, the Chair of the Biocidal Products Committee, in this episode of Safer Chemicals Podcast. They discuss, for example, what happens when the assessment of endocrine disrupting properties is lacking from applications. Joost also comes back to the topic of data gaps and missing information, and reminds companies of their responsibility of making...

The Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation, also known as the CLP Regulation, requires companies to classify, label and package their hazardous chemicals appropriately before placing them on the EU market to protect health and the environment but also to ensure free movement of substances, mixtures and article.   In this episode, the host Päivi Jokiniemi and the head of ECHA’s Hazard classification unit, Paul Ryan, talk about the amendment that introduced new hazard classes to the...

Welcome to this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, where we look into the EU indicator framework for chemicals, focused on improving chemical safety across Europe. The transition towards safer and more sustainable chemicals is progressing in some areas, while in others, it is just beginning. This is the finding of a first, joint Europe-wide assessment of the drivers and impact of chemical pollution by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). The...

This episode of the Safer Chemicals podcast, hosted by Adam Elwan from ECHA, dives into the work of the committees' work on the proposal to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Europe. Adam is joined by Roberto Scazzola and Maria Ottati, chairs of ECHA's Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis committees as they discuss the first steps of forming scientific opinions on the restriction proposal. The episode also touches on the committees' work on other areas, such as...

Our wellbeing depends on the health of animals, plants and our environment. What affects one affects all the others, and increasingly so. A One Health perspective is about joining forces to find integrated solutions to common challenges such as climate change and antibiotic resistance. Join us to hear from experts at five EU scientific agencies about how we can put One Health into practice. Whether it's safeguarding access to life-saving medicines or combating the next pandemics, a One...

Our wellbeing depends on the health of animals, plants and our environment. What affects one affects all the others, and increasingly so. A One Health perspective is about joining forces to find integrated solutions to common challenges such as climate change and antibiotic resistance. Join us to hear from experts at five EU scientific agencies about how we can put One Health into practice. Whether it's safeguarding access to life-saving medicines or combating the next pandemics, a One...

Welcome to the Safer Chemicals Podcast. In this episode, we explore an EU enforcement project that revealed concerning levels of banned chemicals in everyday consumer goods across Europe. The findings? A significant 18% non-compliance rate in various items like electrical devices, sports gear, toys, and fashion products. Join us as we discuss the project's key discoveries and recommendations with experts Karin Rumar and Maciej Baranski. They shed light on the presence of harmful substances...

Welcome to the Safer Chemicals Podcast. Join host Adam Elwan as he delves into the work of the European Chemicals Agency's scientific committees. In this episode, we talk about the record number of comments received for the proposed restriction of PFAS and the harmonised classification of tea tree oil. Discover the unprecedented public engagement as we explore the analysis of over 5 600 comments received on the proposed PFAS restriction. Our experts, Roberto Scazzola and Maria Ottati, shed...

Join Päivi Jokiniemi and Joost van Galen in this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast. The episode focuses on the most important outcomes of the November meeting of our Biocidal Products Committee. Joost tells, for example, about the adopted Union authorisation opinions and explains why the Committee will continue discussing its opinion on an active substance application for bronopol in an additional virtual meeting in December 2023. He also raises the issue of data gaps and gives tips...

Join Adam Elwan in the latest episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast as he welcomes the new Chair of the Risk Assessment Committee, Roberto Scazzola, and Maria Ottati, Chair of the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee.  They talk about the ongoing evaluation of the universal PFAS restriction proposal, France's proposal to restrict creosote-treated wood, the impact of new CLP hazard classes, and more.  Get the latest updates on chemical risk assessment and regulation in Europe. What the...

After the summer break, the Biocidal Products Committee is back in business discussing the latest active substance and Union authorisation cases.  In this episode, we will introduce Joost van Galen, the new Chair of the committee, who tells about his background and how it has prepared him for this new role. He also shares his thoughts about the main challenges that the committee will be facing in the coming years. In addition, we cover the most important opinions that the committee...

Welcome to the Safer Chemicals Podcast, where we delve into the world of chemical risk management. In this episode, we speak with Tim Bowmer and Maria Ottati, Chairs of ECHA's Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis Committees.  They update us on the universal PFAS restriction proposal, an ambitious initiative to minimise the release of persistent chemicals. Tim Bowmer also reflects on his impressive 11 years as Chair and sheds light on the evolving regulatory landscape.  Join us as...

Join us in this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast as we explore the latest developments from the Enforcement Forum of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).  In conversation with Katja vom Hofe, the outgoing Chair of the Forum, we reflect on the achievements and challenges faced in promoting chemical safety and enforcement. Discover how the Forum's collaborative efforts have shaped the future of chemical regulation in Europe and learn about the upcoming REACH enforcement project,...

This episode gives you the highlights from the June meeting of our Biocidal Products Committee. Our guest is the Chair of the committee, Erik van de Plassche.  In this episode we cover, for example, topical active substance and Union authorisation cases. We also discuss some procedural topics related to data that is generated after an active substance has been approved as well as minor and major change applications in the context of Union authorisations. We also take a broader look at...

Tim Bowmer and María Ottati, Chairs of our committees for risk assessment and socio-economic analysis join us to share the highlights from their March 2023 meetings. On the agenda: • Restricting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)  The universal restriction proposal  prepared by the authorities of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden was discussed for the first time in the committees. Both committees confirmed that the proposal conforms with the legal requirements...

This episode gives you the highlights from the March meeting of our Biocidal Products Committee. Our guest is the Chair of the Committee, Erik van de Plassche. The main topic of the episode is the nitrogen generated from ambient air. We cover the main points of discussion and motivation for the committee’s opinion. Background The Committee prepares scientific opinions for the European Commission on biocidal active substances and on EU-wide authorisations of biocidal products.  Full...

In this episode we focus on nanomaterials, and more specifically, on how they persist in the environment and how their safety should be considered already when the products are being designed. Nanomaterials have different properties than larger materials. Producing them opens new opportunities in many fields - but they may also have different effects on our health and the environment than larger forms. The European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials, also known as EUON, recently concluded...

Our scientific committees have had their last meetings of the year and in this episode we cover the outcomes of the Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis committees. Tim, the Chair of the Risk Assessment Committee and Maria who chairs the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee join us. We talk about the restriction of lead ammunition for hunting and outdoor sports shooting and lead used in fishing tackle. Here, the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee adopted its opinion on the costs and...