62019TJ0176_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 16 December 2020 –3V Sigma v ECHA
(Case T‑176/19)
(REACH – Substance evaluation – UVASORB HEB – Decision of the ECHA requesting further information – Article 46(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 – Request seeking to identify potential transformation or degradation products of the substance – Proportionality – Need for the additional study requested – Relevant conditions and realistic conditions – Study temperature – Manifest error of assessment)
1.
Approximation of laws – Registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals – REACH Regulation – Assessment procedure – Decision of the European Chemicals Agency requesting further information in the context of a substance evaluation – Need for the additional study requested – Burden of proof on the ECHA – Scope
(European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1907/2006, Art. 46(1) and Annex XIII)
(see paras 44, 46, 53, 57)
2.
Approximation of laws – Registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals – REACH Regulation – Assessment procedure – Decision of the European Chemical Agency requesting further information in the context of a substance evaluation – Conditions imposed for the additional study – Assessment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1907/2006, Annex XIII)
(see paras 70-73, 86)
Re:
Action under Article 263 TFEU seeking the annulment in part of Decision A-004-2017 of the ECHA Board of Appeal of 15 January 2019 in so far as it dismissed the applicant’s appeal against the decision of the ECHA of 20 December 2016 requiring that further information be provided about the substance UVASORB HEB and in so far as the deadline for providing that information was set at 22 October 2020.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders 3V Sigma SpA to bear its own costs and to pay the costs incurred by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), including those incurred in connection with the proceedings for interim relief;
3.
Orders the Federal Republic of Germany to bear its own costs.