Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/1390 of 31 July 2019 amending, for the purpose of its adaptation to technical progress, the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 440/2008 laying down test methods pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) (Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC (1), and in particular Article 13(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 440/2008 (2) contains the test methods for the purposes of the determination of the physicochemical properties, toxicity and ecotoxicity of chemicals to be applied for the purposes of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006.

(2) The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) develops harmonised and internationally agreed test guidelines for the testing of chemicals for regulatory purposes. The OECD regularly issues new and revised test guidelines, taking account of scientific progress in this area.

(3) In order to take into account technical progress and, whenever possible, to reduce the number of animals used for experimental purposes in accordance with Article 13(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, following the adoption of relevant OECD test guidelines, two new test methods for the assessment of ecotoxicity and nine new test methods for the determination of toxicity to human health should be laid down and seven test methods should be updated. Eleven of those test methods relate to in vitro tests for skin and eye irritation/corrosion, skin sensitisation, genotoxicity and endocrine effects. Stakeholders have been consulted on the proposed amendment.

(4) Regulation (EC) No 440/2008 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(5) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established under Article 133 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The Annex to Regulation (EC) No 440/2008 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 31 July 2019.

For the Commission The President Jean-Claude JUNCKER

(1) OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p. 1.

(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 440/2008 of 30 May 2008 laying down test methods pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) (OJ L 142, 31.5.2008, p. 1).