Competences of the Agency as defined in Regulations (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH Regulation) and (EC) No 1272/2008

The legal base of ECHA’s founding regulation, the REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, is Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.

Objectives The purpose of the REACH Regulation is to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment, including the promotion of alternative methods for assessment of hazards of substances, as well as the free circulation of substances on the internal market while enhancing competitiveness and innovation. (Article 1 of the REACH Regulation) The Agency should be central to ensuring that chemicals legislation and the decision-making processes and scientific basis underlying it have credibility with all stakeholders and the public. The Agency should also play a pivotal role in coordinating communication concerning this Regulation and in its implementation. The confidence in the Agency of the Union institutions, the Member States, the general public and interested parties is therefore essential. For this reason, it is vital to ensure its independence, high scientific, technical and regulatory capacities, as well as transparency and efficiency (recital 95 of the REACH Regulation)

Tasks ECHA is established for the purposes of managing and in some cases carrying out the technical, scientific and administrative aspects of the REACH Regulation and to ensure consistency at Union level in relation to these aspects. (Article 75 of the REACH Regulation) The Agency is also to provide the Member States and the institutions of the Union with the best possible scientific and technical advice on questions relating to chemicals which fall within its remit and which are referred to it in accordance with the provisions of the REACH Regulation. (Article 77(1) of the REACH Regulation) ECHA also has tasks related to the classification and labelling of chemical substances deriving from the CLP Regulation (EC) 1272/2008. In particular, the Agency is to provide Member States and the institutions of the Union with the best possible scientific advice and provide industry and Member State authorities with technical and scientific guidance.

1 — Management Board One representative of each Member State, appointed by the Council, and a maximum of six representatives appointed by the Commission, including three individuals from interested parties without voting rights and, in addition, two independent persons appointed by the European Parliament. (Article 79 of the REACH Regulation) Tasks: Article 78 of the REACH Regulation and framework financial regulation for agencies, mainly adopting annual and multiannual work programme, the final budget, a general report, internal rules of procedures and appointment of and disciplinary authority over of the Executive Director. In addition appointment of Board of Appeal and Committee members. 2 — Executive Director Tasks: Article 83 of the REACH Regulation 3 — Committees ECHA comprises three Committees (Risk Assessment, Member States and Socio-Economic Analysis) Tasks: Article 76(1)(c-e) of the REACH Regulation. 4 — Forum for Exchange of Information on Enforcement Tasks: Article 76(1)(f) of the REACH Regulation 5 — Secretariat Tasks: Article 76(1)(g) of the REACH Regulation 6 — Board of Appeal Tasks: Article 76(1)(h) of the REACH Regulation 7 — External audit Court of Auditors. 8 — Internal audit IAS, Internal audit service Commission. 9 — Discharge authority Parliament, acting on a recommendation from the Council.

Budget (including amending budget) 70,4 (66,4) million euro, including: Revenue from fees: 2,2 (3,8) million euro Union contribution: 66,6 (62,6) million Staff at 31 December 2009 324 (220) posts in the establishment plan Number of posts occupied: 293 (210) Other staff: 62 (34) Contract staff, seconded national experts and agency staff TOTAL staff numbers: 355 (244) Allocated to: — operational tasks: 237 (164) — administrative and support tasks: 118 (80)