Areas of Union competence deriving from the Treaty

Competences of the Agency as defined in Regulations (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH Regulation) and (EC) No 1272/2008

(Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (Classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures))

Governance

Resources made available to the Agency in 2009

(Data for 2008)

Products and services provided during the financial year 2009

(Data for 2008) (12)

The legal base of ECHA’s founding regulation, the REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, is Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.

Objectives

The purpose of the REACH Regulation is to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment, including the promotion of alternative methods for assessment of hazards of substances, as well as the free circulation of substances on the internal market while enhancing competitiveness and innovation. (Article 1 of the REACH Regulation)

The Agency should be central to ensuring that chemicals legislation and the decision-making processes and scientific basis underlying it have credibility with all stakeholders and the public. The Agency should also play a pivotal role in coordinating communication concerning this Regulation and in its implementation. The confidence in the Agency of the Union institutions, the Member States, the general public and interested parties is therefore essential. For this reason, it is vital to ensure its independence, high scientific, technical and regulatory capacities, as well as transparency and efficiency (recital 95 of the REACH Regulation)

Tasks

ECHA is established for the purposes of managing and in some cases carrying out the technical, scientific and administrative aspects of the REACH Regulation and to ensure consistency at Union level in relation to these aspects. (Article 75 of the REACH Regulation)

The Agency is also to provide the Member States and the institutions of the Union with the best possible scientific and technical advice on questions relating to chemicals which fall within its remit and which are referred to it in accordance with the provisions of the REACH Regulation. (Article 77(1) of the REACH Regulation)

ECHA also has tasks related to the classification and labelling of chemical substances deriving from the CLP Regulation (EC) 1272/2008. In particular, the Agency is to provide Member States and the institutions of the Union with the best possible scientific advice and provide industry and Member State authorities with technical and scientific guidance.

1 —   Management Board

One representative of each Member State, appointed by the Council, and a maximum of six representatives appointed by the Commission, including three individuals from interested parties without voting rights and, in addition, two independent persons appointed by the European Parliament. (Article 79 of the REACH Regulation)

Tasks: Article 78 of the REACH Regulation and framework financial regulation for agencies, mainly adopting annual and multiannual work programme, the final budget, a general report, internal rules of procedures and appointment of and disciplinary authority over of the Executive Director. In addition appointment of Board of Appeal and Committee members.

2 —   Executive Director

Tasks: Article 83 of the REACH Regulation

3 —   Committees

ECHA comprises three Committees (Risk Assessment, Member States and Socio-Economic Analysis)

Tasks: Article 76(1)(c-e) of the REACH Regulation.

4 —   Forum for Exchange of Information on Enforcement

Tasks: Article 76(1)(f) of the REACH Regulation

5 —   Secretariat

Tasks: Article 76(1)(g) of the REACH Regulation

6 —   Board of Appeal

Tasks: Article 76(1)(h) of the REACH Regulation

7 —   External audit

Court of Auditors.

8 —   Internal audit

IAS, Internal audit service Commission.

9 —   Discharge authority

Parliament, acting on a recommendation from the Council.

Budget (including amending budget)

70,4 (66,4) million euro, including:

Revenue from fees:

2,2 (3,8) million euro

Union contribution:

66,6 (62,6) million

Staff at 31 December 2009

324 (220) posts in the establishment plan

Number of posts occupied:

293 (210)

Other staff: 62 (34)

Contract staff, seconded national experts and agency staff

TOTAL staff numbers: 355 (244)

Allocated to:

Preparations and capacity building as a new Agency in fields of registration, evaluation, authorisations and restrictions, classification and labelling and committees

Development of REACH-IT system and other IT systems

Administrative and management systems built up

Number of pre-registrations: 38 000(2 750 000) for 16 800(150 000) substances; 3 400 (65 000) companies signed up

Number of completed registration dossiers exc.: 500 (70)

Number of inquiries: 1 000(250)

Number of questions answered by helpdesk: 6 600(12 300)

Number of new guidance documents issued: 2 (6)

Number of guidance updates issued: 0 (10)

Number of compliance checks completed: 14 (1)

Number of unanimous MSC agreements: 15 (15)

Number of RAC/SEAC opinions: 1

Number of substances identified for inclusion in the Candidate list: 15 (15)

Number of recommendations of substances for inclusion as priority substances in REACH Annex XIV: 1

Number of proposals for harmonised classification and labelling: 30 (14)