European Chemicals Bureau


The European Chemicals Bureau was the focal point for the data and assessment procedure on dangerous chemicals within the European Union. The ECB was located in Ispra, Italy, within the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. In 2008 the ECB completed its mandate. Some of its activities were taken over by the European Chemicals Agency ; others remained within the Joint Research Centre. The history of the ECB has been published as a JRC technical report.

Mission

The mission of the formerly known European Chemicals Bureau was to provide scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of EU policies on chemicals and consumer products. It co-ordinated the EU risk assessment programmes that covered the risks posed by existing substances and new substances to workers, consumers and the environment. It also developed guidance documents and tools in support of the REACH Regulation, the Testing Methods Regulation, the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, the notification of new substances, the information exchange on import and export of dangerous substances, the development and harmonisation of testing methods and the authorisation of biocides.

Biocides

The Biocides Work Area provided scientific and technical support for the approval of active substances in biocidal products as laid down in Directive 98/8/EC concerning the placing of biocidal products on the market. Currently, these tasks are dealt with by the biocides group within the IHCP. From 2013, coinciding with the coming-into-force of a new Biocidal Products Regulation, the European Chemicals Agency took over the biocides program.

Existing Chemicals

The "Existing Chemicals" Work Area provided technical and scientific support to the European Commission concerning the data collection, priority setting, and risk assessment steps of Council Regulation 793/93.

New Chemicals

The "New Chemicals" Work Area included:
  • Co-ordination of EU notification scheme and risk assessment for new chemical substances.
  • Management of the New Chemicals Database maintained in a security area with authorised access only.
  • Preparation of European LIst of Notified Chemical Substances.
  • Supervision of Technical and Scientific Meetings and Working Group Meetings allowing Member State Competent Authorities to discuss issues arising related to implementation of Directives.

ESIS

The European chemical Substances Information System is an IT system that provides information on chemicals in different lists. The ESIS database includes the following elements :
  • EINECS ;
  • ++ELINCS ;
  • NLP ;
  • BPD active substances;
  • ++PBT or vPvB ;
  • ++CLP/GHS, CLP implements the Globally harmonised System ;
  • ++HPVCs and LPVCs, including EU Producers/Importers lists;
  • ++IUCLID Chemical Data Sheets, OECD-IUCLID Export Files, EUSES Export Files;
  • ++Priority Lists, Risk Assessment process and tracking system in relation to Council Regulation 793/93 also known as Existing Substances Regulation.