New PIC Regulation adds to ECHA's tasks

Date:08-17-2012

As the PIC Regulation enters into force today, ECHA will begin the preparations for its new responsibilities under this regulation. The Agency will implement the relevant regulatory framework, develop new IT-tools for this and recruit new staff.

PIC regulates the import and export of certain hazardous chemicals and requires industry to notify their intention to import or export these chemicals. ECHA's main task will be to transmit the notifications to the importing (non-EU) countries, to manage all related communication and to keep a database of the notifications. Under the current legislation, these tasks are the responsibility of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC).

"ECHA's management of PIC activities will benefit from the experience we have gained from our work on REACH and CLP. Having the administrative responsibility for these three regulations, as well as the new Biocides Regulation, that also entered into force this summer, is a sign of trust in ECHA's ability to perform", says Geert Dancet, Executive Director of ECHA.

The database on the imported and exported hazardous chemicals will be made available on ECHA's website. ECHA will also provide assistance as well as technical and scientific guidance to industry, the designated national authorities both from the EU and from third countries and the Commission.