On 11 June 2025, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published an updated report on Key Areas of Regulatory Challenge, outlining new scientific research needs aligned with the EU’s Competitiveness Compass and the Clean Industrial Deal. The report emphasizes the critical role of targeted research in protecting human health and the environment while supporting sustainable innovation and circular economy goals.
New Research Priorities Include:
* Chemical emissions and exposure during the waste stage: To refine emission estimates and avoid overly conservative regulations.
* Hazards of recycled non-fossil fuel resources: To inform EU policies promoting pollution reduction and sustainable growth.
* Valuing environmental impacts: To assess regulatory effectiveness and proportionality under frameworks like REACH and the Batteries Regulation.
* Advanced monitoring methods: For chemicals in aquatic environments and contamination from food contact materials.
ECHA Executive Director highlighted ongoing progress in regulatory-relevant research, including improved analytical methods for PFAS detection and monitoring of key phthalates. The report reflects ECHA’s evolving role within the EU-wide PARC programme, ensuring research addresses pressing regulatory challenges in chemical risk assessment.
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