ECHA and NICNAS start working together
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the Australian Government’s National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS), Department of Health and Ageing, are strengthening their relationship in the area of chemicals safety.
In line with the shared commitment to improve chemical safety, ECHA and NICNAS have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance co-operation.
The aim is to strengthen the scientific dialogue between the European Union and Australia and to increase co-operation on technical matters and other issues of common interest including the hazards and emerging risks of chemical substances, risk management tools, scientific collaboration and information exchange.
One of the anticipated areas of collaboration will be exchange of information. For example, the Memorandum of Understanding will promote the exchange of non-confidential information on hazards, uses and identity of chemical substances between ECHA and NICNAS. The agencies will also be sharing information on ways to more efficiently address chemicals of concern.
When signing the Memorandum Geert Dancet, Executive Director of ECHA said: “This Memorandum of Understanding will lead the way to a closer co-operation between both regulatory authorities to the benefit of companies and citizens on both sides of globe”.
Marion Healy, Director of NICNAS said she saw the signing as a significant step. "It links our activities in Australia to a range of scientific work within ECHA in a way that will benefit both the agencies and their stakeholders, reduce duplication of effort and benefit health and safety", Dr Healy said.
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