The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has chosen 162 substances from its REACH registrations for further scrutiny as part of its annual IT screening process.

The substances selected have been identified as potentially carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic in various ways and then prioritised according to their degree of exposure to human beings or release into the environment.

Any company that has registered one of the short-listed substances will receive a letter from the ECHA asking them to ensure that their information is as up to date as possible. This will help the ECHA identify whether the original concerns are still justified and regulation still needed.