In the food sector, chemical risk is often associated with product safety and HACCP procedures, but it also directly concerns worker protection and the management of chemicals used in production processes: detergents, sanitizers, technical gases, additives, and materials in contact with food.In this increasingly evolving regulatory environment, updated tools for assessing and managing chemical risks are becoming essential not only for legislative compliance but also for improving corporate organization and prevention.
It is precisely in this direction that the innovation announced by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) fits in.
The Chesar Cloud platform is born
ECHA has released the first version of its new Chesar platform , a tool designed to support companies and authorities in chemical risk assessment and reporting under REACH and the Biocidal Products Regulation.This is a significant evolution:
- integrates existing tools (Chesar and EUSES) into a single environment
- offers a structured workflow for risk assessment
- allows you to calculate exposure and generate reports automatically
What changes for companies
Chesar is not just a technical tool, but represents a step forward towards a more integrated and standardized management of chemical risk.In particular, it allows you to:
- develop chemical safety assessments
- create exposure scenarios for safety data sheets
- harmonize the documentation required by the legislation
- improve the traceability and updating of analyses
Food sector: opportunities and impacts
Even for food companies, which are often less directly involved in REACH procedures than the chemical industry, the new platform offers important insights.1. Better management of chemicals
Detergents, sanitizers, and biocides are central to the food industry: tools like Chesar can help:- manage products correctly
- assess worker exposure
- update safety data sheets
2. Integration with HACCP and food safety
Chemical risk assessment is becoming increasingly complementary to HACCP systems:- reduces the risk of chemical contamination
- improve internal control procedures
3. Regulatory compliance support
Food companies must comply with various obligations (REACH, CLP, biocides):a structured platform allows you to:
- simplify documentation
- keep ratings up to date
- demonstrate compliance in case of checks
An evolving tool
The new version of Chesar will progressively replace the old tools, which will only remain available for a transitional period to allow for the transition to the new platform.ECHA also provides ongoing updates and training initiatives (such as dedicated webinars) to support companies in their use.