The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has launched a publicly accessible chemicals database.
- In the first version of ECHA CHEM, one can find information from all the over 100 000 REACH registrations that companies have submitted to ECHA.
- Later this year, the database will be expanded with the redesigned Classification and Labelling Inventory, followed by the first set of regulatory lists.
The background: ECHA’s current information on chemicals platform, launched in 2016, grew rapidly and contains today information on over 360,000 chemicals.
- In 2022, ECHA announced that it would create a new system for publishing chemicals data.
- ECHA CHEM allows the Agency to better handle the growing diversity and quantity of data, while taking advantage of technological advancements.
The new database: ECHA CHEM now includes data that companies have submitted in their REACH registrations. Over the coming years, ECHA will gradually transfer the data it makes publicly available from their current location (Search for chemicals) to ECHA CHEM.
- During the transition, users may need to consult both ECHA CHEM and the former platform. As a support during this transition, ECHA will be compiling practical information about the progressive transfer to ECHA CHEM.
- One can find the latest information on past and upcoming ECHA CHEM releases, different types of support documentation such as webinars and Q&As, as well as a simple tutorial that helps you determine where you can find the information you are looking for.
Releases: ECHA CHEM will be incrementally developed.
- 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.
What they said:
ECHA CHEM is a significant step forward in enhancing our service for sharing data on chemicals gathered through ECHA’s current activities. It makes the information available online within a stable system and in a user-friendly manner.
— Mercedes Viñas
Director of Submissions and Interaction
ECHA
ECHA CHEM has been designed to be flexible technical platform capable of handling large amounts of data, and adjustable for different needs arising for example from new tasks to be assigned to ECHA. So, one could say with the technological choices made ECHA CHEM is really a future-proof solution.
— Kai Taka-aho
Director of Information Systems
ECHA
