The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) today announced the launch of ECHA CHEM, a new online platform that will provide public access to chemical information. This initial release is a big step forward in transparency and data accessibility, providing detailed information on over 100,000 REACH registrations.
ECHA CHEM is a significant advance over ECHA‘s prior Information on Chemicals platform. The new platform features a more user-friendly interface, improved data processing capabilities, and a future-proof portal designed to meet the agency’s changing demands.
Key Features of ECHA CHEM:
- Information from all company REACH registrations, more than 100,000 entries are included in the first release.
- This year ECHA CHEM will be expanded to include the redesigned Classification and Labelling Inventory and, also a set of regulatory lists.
- The platform features a user-friendly interface and accessible search functionalities for easy navigation and discovery of relevant data.
- ECHA CHEM’s flexible design is built to accommodate future data growth and adapt to evolving needs and technologies.
The director’s opinion on enhanced transparency and data sharing
“ECHA CHEM is a significant step forward in enhancing our service for sharing data on chemicals, it makes the information readily available online within a stable and user-friendly system.” said Mercedes Viñas, ECHA’s Director of Submissions and Interaction.
Kai Taka-aho, Director of Information Systems, emphasized the platform’s future-proof capabilities: “ECHA CHEM has been designed to handle large and diverse datasets while adapting to new tasks and requirements. This ensures the platform’s long-term viability and continued value for stakeholders.”
Timelines
It was founded in 2016, ECHA’s Information on chemicals platform has grown rapidly to contain information on over 360 000 chemicals.
In 2022, ECHA announced that it would create a new system for publishing chemicals data.
Taking advantage of technological advancements, ECHA CHEM allows the Agency to better manage the growing diversity and quantity of data. In 2024, ECHA CHEM will be developed gradually-
30 January 2024 – Launch with REACH registration data.
May 2024 – REACH registration data alignment with IUCLID latest format.
Q3 2024 – Revised Classification and labelling inventory.
Q4 2024 – First set of regulatory processes and obligation lists.
ECHA CHEM marks a significant milestone in ECHA’s commitment to transparency and data accessibility. This new platform provides complete information on chemicals to academics, regulators, industry, and the public allowing for more informed decision-making and safer chemical management practices.
