European Chemicals Agency and amending regulations

The Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety adopted the report by Christophe CLERGEAU (S&D, FR) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Chemicals Agency and amending Regulations (EC) No 1907/2006, (EU) No 528/2012, (EU) No 649/2012 and (EU) 2019/1021.

The committee responsible recommended that the European Parliament adopt its position at first reading as follows:

Objectives and missions of the agency

The Agency will:

- ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment, including the protection of vulnerable groups. It must aim to deliver quality, coherence and consistency in chemicals assessment and management across the Union which is key to ensuring the free circulation of substances in the internal market;

- provide technical and scientific support taking into account the objectives of ensuring a high level of protection of human health and the environment, occupational health standards, the specific needs of SMEs and the requirement of replacing animal testing with non-animal approaches where scientifically possible;

- ensure that conflicts of interest are prevented or managed, to ensure its independence and credibility with stakeholders and the general public;

- upon request from the European Parliament or a Member State, provide scientific opinions and technical assistance in a field falling within its competences.

Administrative and management structure of the Agency

This will include an assembly of accredited stakeholders, which aims to strengthen relations between accredited stakeholders and the Agency, and to facilitate their contribution to the Agency's missions.

The assembly will include two independent persons appointed by the European Parliament, those persons will be independent in the performance of their duties and will neither seek nor take instructions from any Union institution, body, office or agency, any government or from any other public or private body.

Committees

The Committees will:

- provide technical and scientific support for steps to improve cooperation among the Union, Member States, international organisations and third countries on scientific and technical issues relating to the safety of substances, as well as active participation in technical assistance and capacity building activities on the sound management of chemicals in developing countries;

- draw up an opinion on any other aspects concerning the safety of substances on their own, in mixtures or in articles.

Member States will provide the necessary scientific and technical resources and administrative support to the members of the committees they have designated or appointed, enabling them to participate effectively.

Programming document and budget

By the end of each year, based on a proposal by the Executive Director, the Management Board will endorse a draft single programming document containing the following:

- an assessment of the adequacy of the Agency’s financial and human resources to carry out its current and upcoming tasks;

- a strategy on the effective use of members and experts;

- a strategy on the expected needs and expenses resulting from secondment and on any decision to grant financial support to national authorities, agencies and research institutes for the implementation of certain tasks.

Fees and charges levied under Union sectoral legislation will be set at a level sufficient to cover the costs of the services provided in accordance with that legislation.

No later than two years after the date of application of this Regulation and every three year thereafter, the Commission will evaluate the budgetary adequacy and adapt accordingly the fees payable to the Agency, notably with regard to ensuring that the revenue derived from the fees when combined with other sources of the Agency's revenue is sufficient to cover the cost of the services delivered.

Networking of national authorities, agencies and research institutes

The Agency will facilitate the networking of national authorities, agencies and research institutes operating in the areas of competence of the Agency. The aim of such networking is, in particular, to facilitate a scientific cooperation framework by the coordination of activities, the exchange of information, the development and implementation of joint projects, and the exchange of expertise and best practices in the areas of competence of the Agency.

Task force

Parliament proposed the creation of a permanent task force, composed of the Agency, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA).

The task force will focus on cross-sectoral issues that can benefit from a One Health and exposome approach. It will build on existing mechanisms of cooperation, maximising synergies and avoiding duplication. The task force will not act as a decision-making body. It may propose recommendations for action to the senior management of the agencies. It will be required to meet at least six times a year.