Safer Chemicals Podcast

European Chemicals Agency

Whether you work with chemicals, have an interest in how chemicals affect us and the environment or work as a journalist or decision-maker in the field of manufactured chemicals, the Safer Chemicals Podcast is for you.

We give you the latest updates on how chemicals are being regulated in the EU and what harmful chemicals are being phased out.

Listen to expert views on chemical safety in the EU and join the scientific discussion on key topics including microplastics, glyphosate, endocrine disruptors, chemicals used in tattoo inks, and much more.

Hosted by Adam Elwan and Päivi Jokiniemi from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

Visit our website: https://echa.europa.eu/

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Subscribe Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

65 episodes
Updated June 14

Episodes65

Newest first

June 14 · 32 min
Moving away from animal testing: how new methods can support chemical safety
The European Commission published its roadmap for phasing out animal testing on 1 June 2026, and the first meeting of ECHA’s Collaborative Platform on Alternatives to Animal Testing has now taken place. In this episode, we explore what these develop...
March 22 · 38 min
PFAS restriction proposal: Closer look at ECHA committees' latest opinions
In this episode of the safer chemicals podcast, we take a more detailed look at the committees’ opinions on the proposed restriction of PFAS in Europe. Host Adam Elwan speaks with Roberto Scazzola, Chair of the Committee for Risk Assessment, about the...
March 2 · 15 min
Biocidal Products Committee: Ethanol opinion explained
This episode of our Safer Chemicals Podcast focuses on the Biocidal Product Committee’s (BPC) conclusion on the use of the active substance ethanol. The BPC supports its approval for use in hand and general disinfectants (product-types 1, 2 and 4) but...
Dec 14, 2025 · 27 min
PFAS restriction proposal and new hazard classes: December committee updates
In this episode, we deconstruct the outcomes of the December meetings of the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) and the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC). Topics include: Universal PFAS restriction proposal: The interviewees break down the lat...
Nov 19, 2025 · 22 min
EU enforcement project: targeted checks uncovered non-compliances in imported products.
In this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, host Päivi Jokiniemi is joined by Henrik Hedlund, Chair of ECHA's Enforcement Forum, and Maciej Baranski, Team Leader of ECHA's Harmonised Enforcement Team, to discuss the results of a recent EU-wide REA...
Sep 23, 2025 · 30 min
PFAS, titanium dioxide, and new tasks: September committee updates
In this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, host Adam Elwan is joined by Roberto Scazzola, Chair of the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC), and Maria Ottati, Chair of the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC). Together, they unpack the latest...
Jun 13, 2025 · 29 min
PFAS, Chromium VI and worker safety: June committee updates
In this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, host Adam Elwan is joined by Roberto Scazzola, Chair of the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC), and Maria Ottati, Chair of the Socio-economic Analysis Committee (SEAC), to unpack the latest developments fro...
May 19, 2025 · 22 min
Biocidal Products Committee: Analysing alternatives to anticoagulant rodenticides
ECHA’s Biocidal Products Committee met on 12-16 May 2025. In this episode, the committee chair Joost van Galen joins host Päivi Jokiniemi to discuss the key outcomes from the meeting. Topics covered include Union authorisations and data gaps, harmonis...
Mar 17, 2025 · 26 min
PFAS restriction update: energy, transport and fluorinated gases
In this episode, we dive into the highlights of ECHA's Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis committees' meetings. First, we explore the ongoing discussions on restricting PFAs, including new sectors like transport and energy. We discuss the c...
Nov 29, 2024 · 22 min
ECHA committees give update on PFAS restriction proposal and discuss harmonised classification
In this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, Adam Elwan is joined by Roberto Scazzola, Chair of the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC), and María Ottati, Chair of the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC). They discuss highlights of the November co...
Nov 26, 2024 · 23 min
EU enforcement project checks safety data sheets - still room for improvement
In this episode we talk about one of the core tools for chemical safety in the workplace: safety data sheets. They contain information on how to safely handle, store, and dispose of chemicals. It is the responsibility of the supplier to provide safety...
Nov 13, 2024 · 24 min
New approach methodologies: shaping research for non-animal test methods
In this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, we dive into ECHA’s new initiatives in advancing non-animal testing methods through the New Approach Methodologies Framework Contract. Our guests, Sylvia Escher from the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxico...
Sep 22, 2024 · 18 min
ECHA committees discuss PFAS restriction and hazards of Talc
In this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, Adam Elwan is joined by Roberto Scazzola, Chair of the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC), and María Ottati, Chair of the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC). They talk about the September committee me...
Jun 16, 2024 · 32 min
ECHA’s Member State Committee: Resolving divergences for chemical safety
In this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, we explore the vital work carried out by the European Chemicals Agency’s Member State Committee. Host Päivi Jokiniemi is joined by Katinka van der Jagt, Chair of the Member State Committee, alongside two...
Jun 10, 2024 · 18 min
Restricting PFAS in the EU: Next sectors to be evaluated by ECHA's committees
In this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, host Adam Elwan is joined by Roberto Scazzola, the Chair of ECHA's Risk Assessment Committee and Maria Ottati who chairs the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee to discuss the ongoing efforts and challenges...
Jun 3, 2024 · 20 min
Biocidal Products Committee: Applicants responsible for making sure their dossiers are complete
ECHA’s Biocidal Products Committee met during the last week of May 2024 and adopted altogether 18 opinions.Join Päivi Jokiniemi and Joost van Galen, the Chair of the Biocidal Products Committee, in this episode of Safer Chemicals Podcast. They discuss,...
Apr 16, 2024 · 19 min
Advancing chemical safety: the impact of new hazard classes in the CLP Regulation
The Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation, also known as the CLP Regulation, requires companies to classify, label and package their hazardous chemicals appropriately before placing them on the EU market to protect health and the environme...
Apr 15, 2024 · 23 min
Assessing EU's chemicals legislation: more needs to be done to make chemicals safe and sustainable
Welcome to this episode of the Safer Chemicals Podcast, where we look into the EU indicator framework for chemicals, focused on improving chemical safety across Europe.The transition towards safer and more sustainable chemicals is progressing in some a...
Mar 19, 2024 · 18 min
PFAS restriction sectoral approach: Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis Committee highlights
This episode of the Safer Chemicals podcast, hosted by Adam Elwan from ECHA, dives into the work of the committees' work on the proposal to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Europe. Adam is joined by Roberto Scazzola and Maria Otta...
Mar 10, 2024 · 21 min
Joining forces for humans, animals, environment: One Health - Part 2
Our wellbeing depends on the health of animals, plants and our environment. What affects one affects all the others, and increasingly so. A One Health perspective is about joining forces to find integrated solutions to common challenges such as climate...