European Chemicals Agency
Headquarters in Helsinki | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 June 2007 |
| Type | Regulatory Agency of the European Union |
| Headquarters | Helsinki, Finland 60°09′29″N 24°55′57″E / 60.1581°N 24.9325°E |
| Employees | 600 |
| Agency executive |
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| Key document | |
| Website | echa |
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA; /ˈɛkə/ EK-ə) is an agency of the European Union working for the safe use of chemicals. It manages the technical and administrative aspects of the implementation of the European Union regulation called Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). ECHA is the driving force among regulatory authorities in implementing the EU's chemicals legislation. ECHA has to ascertain that companies comply with the legislation, advances the safe use of chemicals, provides information on chemicals and addresses chemicals of concern. It is located in Helsinki, Finland and is operational since 2007. ECHA is an independent and mature regulatory agency established by REACH. It is not a subsidiary entity of the European Commission.
The agency is headed by Executive Director Sharon McGuinness.