30 June 2025 - ECHA focuses on SME and stakeholder support following survey results

ECHA/NR/25/22

Helsinki, 1 July 2025 - The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) will prioritise, as an integral part of its work, the support of small and medium-sized companies (SMEs), improving communication with stakeholders and increasing innovation and efficiency in tools and resources. These areas of focus were identified in the recent stakeholder perception survey as ones where stakeholders believe the agency should improve.

The results of the survey, commissioned in early 2025 to measure stakeholder's perception of ECHA, show that it is viewed as a trusted and accessible agency that delivers reliable data, services and support to stakeholders, but that there are areas for improvement.

Following an analysis of the results, and considering the report's overall recommendations, the agency will focus on actions in three key areas in 2025-2026 to address stakeholder concerns:

• Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing
  • Implement an action plan to support SMEs;
• Enhance communication and transparency
  • Centralise the coordination of stakeholder feedback;
  • Review and increase transparency of existing stakeholder platforms;
  • Review the accredited stakeholder system;

• Drive innovation and efficiency
  • Further develop ECHA's IT tools, website and ECHA CHEM database.

Dr. Sharon McGuinness, ECHA's Executive Director said:

"We appreciate stakeholders' engagement in this process and the feedback and insights provided which will contribute to our work. Following our analysis of the report, we see that the main development areas that stakeholders' highlight largely align with those identified and prioritised in our strategy and work plan.

"Therefore, by concentrating on these three areas, ECHA aims to reinforce how it supports and works with its stakeholders and partners to achieve its vision of chemical safety through science, collaboration and knowledge."

Overall Report Recommendations

The survey report highlighted a total six recommendations for the organisation which could contribute to enhancing ECHA's work in delivering its vision of chemical safety through science, collaboration and knowledge. These are:

1. Streamline organisational structure and improve accessibility;
2. Enhance stakeholder engagement and representation;
3. Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing;
4. Drive innovation and efficiency;
5. Enhance communication and transparency; and
6. Address resource constraints and optimise allocation.

Next steps

The next perception survey will be run in 2027 to measure progress against ECHA's commitment.
The survey work, analysis and final report were delivered by Marco/IPSOS.

Press contact: David Cliffe, [email protected], +358 50 412 9467