The recent update of European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) data in the OECD eChemPortal is an important development for global chemical transparency. With thousands of updated REACH registrations and more than a thousand newly registered substances, the integration significantly improves the availability and accessibility of regulatory data.
Linking eChemPortal entries to ECHA CHEM is also a step toward traceability. However, this progress remains largely at the level of substances, while effective chemical management increasingly requires transparency on chemicals in products across their lifecycle. Thus, traceability requires continuous data flows along value chains, including manufacturers, downstream users, recyclers, waste operators, and consumers.
Traceability must therefore shift from database linking to lifecycle tracking, supported by standardized identifiers, interoperable data systems, and robust governance frameworks — particularly for emerging instruments such as Digital Product Passports and the Global Framework on Chemicals.
