Standard Owner Benchmark - European Chemicals Agency

By CommonShare

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is an agency of the European Union (EU) that plays a crucial role in ensuring the safe use of chemicals and promoting their sustainable management. Established in 2007, ECHA operates under the framework of the REACH Regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals) and other related legislations.

The main objectives of the European Chemicals Agency are as follows:

Registration: ECHA oversees the registration process for chemicals manufactured or imported in the European Economic Area (EEA) in quantities above certain thresholds. It collects and evaluates information on the properties and uses of chemicals, ensuring that manufacturers and importers comply with their obligations under REACH.

Evaluation: ECHA conducts evaluations of registered substances to assess their potential risks to human health and the environment. This includes the examination of testing proposals, compliance checks on registration dossiers, and substance evaluation based on priority criteria.

Authorization: ECHA manages the authorization process for substances of very high concern (SVHC) that are included in the Candidate List. Companies must seek authorization from ECHA to continue using these substances, and ECHA evaluates the risks and socioeconomic aspects before granting or denying authorization.

Restriction: ECHA identifies substances that pose an unacceptable risk and proposes their restriction or ban in specific uses or across the EU. It assesses the need for restrictions, prepares restriction dossiers, and supports the European Commission in making decisions on imposing restrictions.

Classification and Labelling: ECHA coordinates the harmonization of classification and labelling of chemicals within the EU. It maintains the Classification and Labelling Inventory and supports the implementation of the CLP Regulation (Classification, Labelling, and Packaging of substances and mixtures).

Information and Support: ECHA provides comprehensive information and guidance to companies, authorities, and the public on chemical-related matters. It manages databases such as the REACH IT system, the SCIP database for Substances of Concern In articles, and the harmonized classification and labelling database.

ECHA's work contributes to the protection of human health and the environment, the promotion of sustainable chemical management, and the facilitation of the free movement of chemicals within the EU market. By ensuring the effective implementation of regulations and promoting the use of safer alternatives, ECHA aims to enhance the safety and sustainability of chemicals throughout their lifecycle.

Overall Rating

1.6
Under-Performing

Governance

The certification uses a multi-stakeholder, independent governance model to support the development of the standards related to the certification.

Supply Side Digitization

Details on the certificate are easily available via technology for inclusion in third party digital applications.

Buy Side Availability

Buy side availability details out how easy it is for consumers to find products and companies exhibiting the standards offered by the certification.

Relevance

This considers the scale of the certification, and the number of products and companies that currently contribute to the certificate. National and local certification are normalized with countries.

Digital Accessibility

How easy is it for innovative new companies, startups, and local retailers to have the same access and affordable pricing models to use standard information in digital applications.
European Chemicals Agency
Finland
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How our Standard Owner Benchmark® Works?

By CommonShare

This is a benchmark to help companies understand which standards should be part of a sustainable procurement plan. Further, the benchmark allows standard setting schemes, i.e. "Standard Owners", to benchmark their performance versus industry peers.