ECHA Publishes 2024 Annual Work Report

In April 2025, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) released its 2024 annual work report, showcasing its significant achievements and challenges in chemical regulation over the past year. Here are the key highlights:

1. Dossier Preparation

In 2024, ECHA processed numerous data-sharing consultations and disputes in compliance with regulations, achieving a 14% year-on-year increase in processing volume to ensure efficient operations. It also provided full-cycle tool support and professional guidance for enterprises' information registration and updates.

ECHA co-hosted its first IUCLID and eChemPortal International Coordination Conference with the OECD, addressing global chemical data exchange standardization challenges and promoting cross-border data management consensus. It upgraded the IUCLID system, adding modules like format validation for EU and international regulatory requirements and smart filtering. ECHA also participated in the OECD Test Guidelines Experts Working Group to support the development of technical standards in key areas and enhance the international chemical regulatory system.

2. Dossier Submission and Processing

In 2024, ECHA optimized processes and tools to efficiently handle enterprise-submitted dossiers under the REACH and CLP frameworks, with a surge in C&L notifications due to batch submissions and automated transmission. All registration dossiers underwent completeness checks, with one-third subject to manual verification. The number of enterprise-submitted dossiers was lower than expected, but data completeness improved significantly. The number of registration cases failing the first-tier technical completeness check (669) was much lower than the estimated 1,300 based on historical data. An appeal against a completeness check decision was rejected, validating ECHA's enforcement approach.

ECHA initiated an industry-submission system integration plan, piloting with DWD drinking water data reporting to build a unified portal platform for streamlined enterprise dossier submission.

3. Identification and Prioritisation

In 2024, ECHA restructured the International Regulatory Strategy (IRS) with the EU Commission and member states, establishing new objectives centered on intelligent chemical database management and substance-group risk control. Through cross-framework collaboration with other agencies such as EFSA, and EMA, it implemented the "one substance, one assessment" integrated regulatory model on the RIME + platform, achieving three key breakthroughs.

4. Evaluation

In 2024, ECHA completed the rectification of the 2023 joint evaluation plan, established a new compliance review mechanism, and met the 2024 evaluation targets. It improved case-handling efficiency by 300% through collaboration with member state regulatory agencies and set up an evaluation decision-response tracking system to ensure 100% compliance of enterprise-submitted data.

ECHA updated the CoRAP list with 25 new substances for assessment and completed 19 substance evaluation conclusions. Its support mechanism for member state assessment agencies achieved a 92% satisfaction rate.

5. Authorisation

In 2024, ECHA updated the Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) candidate list, adding two environmental endocrine disruptors (totaling 242), and upgraded data standards for one existing substance. Despite a sharp decline in authorisation applications to 43, the scientific committee faced a structural imbalance between assessment capacity and application volume. There were only 766 downstream user SVHC usage notifications, falling short of the estimated 3,000.

6. Restrictions

In 2024, ECHA completed full-chain risk assessment reports for 60 aromatic brominated flame-retardant substances. It delayed the compilation of the chromium VI substance restriction regulation to April 2025 and completed four authorization substance usage restriction screening reports.

7. Classification and Labelling

In 2024, ECHA efficiently processed 60 chemical uniform classification proposals, with the RAC Committee approving 56 classification and labeling technical opinions. It achieved a milestone in CLP regulation revision.

ECHA upgraded the CLP regulation adaptation system, enabling smart connectivity between IUCLID data interfaces and notification portals.

8. Data Management and Dissemination

In Q1 2024, ECHA launched ECHA CHEM 1.0, a new-generation chemical information platform, achieving full-scale public disclosure of REACH registration dossier data.

9. Promotion of Alternatives to Animal Testing

In 2024, ECHA achieved a dual-version iteration of QSAR Toolbox, completed full-function deployment of Meta Map, and integrated it with IUCLID 8.0. It led to the development of OECD omics-sampling international standards and initiated a revolutionary animal-testing alternative plan.

10. Biocides

In 2024, ECHA completed 15 active-substance opinions and one approval review opinion. It published 17 EU authorization opinions and 8 opinions requested by the EU Commission.

11. Prior Informed Consent

In 2024, ECHA received and successfully processed 10,448 export notifications.

12. Persistent Organic Pollutants

In 2024, ECHA updated the scientific dossiers for siloxane-related substances (D4, D5, D6) and screened candidates for POPs – standard compliance.

Summary

ECHA made significant progress in 2024, particularly in chemical safety, data transparency, and organizational development. Moving forward, it will continue to address emerging challenges, including supporting the EU's Green New Deal, promoting non - animal testing methods, and strengthening cooperation with member states and stakeholders.

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Further Information

ECHA