“One Substance, One Assessment:” EU Parliament Greenlights a Chemicals Data Platform

The European Parliament has approved the European Commission’s proposal to launch a legislative package (One Substance, One Assessment: OSOA). The EU hopes that it will enable faster assessment of chemicals and their risks in the future. The laws are part of the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS).

What it's all about

The primary goal is to set up a standardized data platform for chemicals. The platform will store data and information on hazards, physicochemical properties, environmental occurrence, emissions, uses, and so on. The new platform will integrate existing platforms, such as the Information Platform for Chemical Monitoring (IPCHEM), the Public Activities Coordination Tool (PACT), and the database on EU chemicals regulations (EUCLEF).

Objective: standardized assessment

The initiative aims to achieve a transparent, cross-application, and standardized safety assessment of chemicals. For example, if a substance used in medical devices has already been assessed, this information will also apply to other legislation such as the Toy Safety Directive or the Biocidal Products Regulation. This approach involves data already available to various EU agencies – ECHA, EFSA, EEA, EMA, and EU-OSHA – under approximately 100 EU regulations (chemicals, environmental, occupational safety and health, sustainability legislation).

Mandatory reporting of study data

In addition to this platform for chemical data, plans call for a database to record scientific studies on chemicals. Companies that undertake such studies as part of their legal obligations are required to report the study results to the platform.

Task sharing

Four EU agencies – the European Chemicals Agency, the European Food Safety Authority, the European Environment Agency, and the European Medicines Agency – should also work together more closely and divide their tasks differently.

In the next step, the Parliament and Council of Ministers will negotiate a final text.

Do you have any questions about OSOA? Please contact us at sales@kft.de.