In June 2024, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) updated its report on key areas of regulatory challenge. The report now gives more detailed information on the areas where scientific research is needed to protect people and the environment from chemicals which are classified as hazardous. The areas are neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity and endocrine disruption; environmental pollution via bioaccumulation, impact on non-bee (NBP) pollinators’, New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) to assess biodiversity and developing tests for read-across, In vitro/in silico absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) and Physiologically-Based Kinetic (TK) models, short and long-term fish toxicity and carcinogenicity.

Back in 2023, when ECHA introduced the key research needs, aligning with areas identified in the EU’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS), the initiative was part of the effort to address the main regulatory challenges under the Partnership for the Assessment of Risk from Chemicals (PARC) which is a seven-year programme, 2021-2027.

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