ChIR Symposium 2019

The main goal of the REACH regulations is, according to the European Commission, to “ensure a high level of protection for human health and the environment”. It is therefore important to establish procedures for the safe circulation of chemical substances, while enhancing the competitiveness of innovative alternative safe chemicals, less toxic and less harmful to the environment.
For the past six years the ChIR project, funded through the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission, has formed 83 professionals, from a large diversity of countries and cultures, who are highly qualified to manage chemical safety and deal with the demands of international chemical regulations.

Taking advantage of the ChIR project, the International Symposium on Chemical Innovation and Regulation has, since 2015, brought together professionals, researchers and students from all over the world to discuss state of the art issues on chemical safety, sustainability and the regulations created to assure them.

The ChIR Symposia took place for the first time in the University of Barcelona in 2015. Four symposia took place since then: in the University of Bologna (2016), the University of Algarve (2017) and again in Barcelona (2018). This year, 2019, the University of Algarve has the honor of once again hosting the 5th ChIR Symposium.

The 5th ChIR symposium: “Beyond REACH – Challenges Ahead”

From 2010 to 2018 the main concern of industry and regulators has been the registration of all chemical substances circulating in the European market. The third and last phase of REACH registration of chemical substances was completed in 2018. This marks not the end of a complex process, but instead, a beginning of a huge number of different challenges expected to all professional in the chemical areas or related ones. One such challenge is the need for Circular Economy gaining ground all over the world, and how to remove the most hazardous chemicals from the recycling streams.

The 5th ChIR Symposium is the opportunity to present and discuss important issues related with the usual setbacks derived from complex and global process as the implementation of the REACH legislation.

It is expected to be a fruitful discussion of results and their application in industry and regulation, exchanging ideas and experience with the main players in chemical innovation and regulation: researchers, industry and regulators.

Is also an opportunity for the former ChIR students to show their career evolution related with chemical legislation or chemical safety, and for ChIR the 2nd year students to present and discuss the research work.

Don't waste time: reserve June 6 and 7 in your agenda, make your online registration, book your flights to Faro and join us at 5th ChIR Symposium!

Ana Rosa Garcia
(Programme Director)