Strengthened chemical control in the EU: “One substance, one assessment” is now a reality
From January 1, 2026, the EU's new framework "One Substance, One Assessment" (OSOA) has come into force, with the aim of unifying and harmonizing chemical assessments across EU legislation.
The initiative aims to ensure more consistent, faster and more transparent risk assessments, so that companies do not face different requirements from different regulatory frameworks – and so that authorities can respond more effectively to potential health and environmental risks. The framework has been launched by the European Commission as a central part of the EU's chemicals strategy for sustainability.
At the same time, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) will be given a strengthened role. ECHA will, among other things, build a common European data platform for chemicals, coordinate assessments between authorities and ensure better cooperation across EU agencies.