From the Sector

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has identified new research areas where further regulatory scientific research is needed to enhance protection of human health and the environment and strengthen chemicals safety. 

In its updated Key Areas of Regulatory Challenge Report, ECHA calls for targeted research to address gaps in environmental risk assessment and support evidence-based decisions on chemical safety across the EU.

New areas for regulatory science research

• Environmental impacts of chemicals at ecosystem level, to strengthen the link between risk assessment, biodiversity protection and socio-economic decision-making;
• Mobility of persistent substances, including the need for improved methods and models to identify contaminants that can spread widely in water systems; and
• Resistance to biocides, requiring harmonised methods to assess risks and ensure continued effectiveness of treatments.

Strengthening ECHA’s regulatory science focus
Dr Sharon McGuinness, ECHA’s Executive Director, said:
"This report reflects ECHA’s strengthened focus on regulatory science, aligning with our vision of chemical safety through science, collaboration and knowledge. We encourage the research community to read the report and work to build the evidence base for future decision-making on chemicals safety.

"The establishment of our new Science Council will ensure our scientific efforts are consistent across the Agency and closely linked to our regulatory needs."
Key Areas of Regulatory Challenge 

The report is part of ECHA’s evolving research agenda and a practical reference for researchers and policymakers, highlighting where scientific advances can deliver the greatest regulatory value. It identifies priority areas where further scientific work is needed to support EU chemicals legislation. The list of research needs is not exhaustive.

The report was originally developed to support the work under the Partnership for the assessment of risk from chemicals (PARC), a Horizon Europe programme aiming to advance risk assessment and strengthen collaboration between scientists and regulators.