On 12 February 2026, ASASP hosted the webinar “Understanding the SAS Classification Proposal and Industry Impact”, drawing exceptional interest from across the value chain with almost 400 registrations! 

The webinar focused on the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) Opinion on an EU harmonised classification of Synthetic Amorphous Silica (SAS) as “Specific Target Organ Toxicity following Repeated Exposure, Category 1” (STOT RE 1). ASASP presented the key scientific and regulatory issues with the RAC Opinion, together with the potential regulatory implications for SAS supply chain, in particular: 

• Unclear substance identification and scope
• Unsubstantiated assumptions and claims
• Errors and interpretation of scientific evidence
• Omission of data provided in the CLH public consultation
• Confusion and misunderstanding of the substance SAS, particles in general and the applicability of the CLP Regulation
• Potential regulatory and economic impacts in the value chain. 

 The RAC opinion on SAS is fundamentally flawed, calling into question its validity and suitability as a basis for a classification proposal that could lead to significant regulatory and socio‑economic consequences without improving human health protection. 

Our request is clear: the scientific and regulatory complexities surrounding particulate materials must be properly addressed before any further steps are taken in the SAS CLH classification process. We support the establishment of a dedicated ECHA Expert Group to ensure a sound and coherent framework for particulate material regulation. 

You can find here the presentation of the webinar.  

ASASP member companies remain strongly committed to protecting human health and the environment. We consistently advocate for a science- and evidence-based assessment of synthetic amorphous silica, grounded in expert knowledge on particulate materials and sound regulatory principles. We will continue to engage constructively with regulators and policymakers to ensure that decisions are robust, proportionate, and based on a comprehensive evaluation of the available evidence. 

For any questions, please send an email to asasp@cefic.eu.