European Chemicals Agency
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) was established with the European Chemicals Regulation (REACH). Its mission is to assist companies in complying with the regulations, promote the safe use of chemicals, and provide information about chemicals.
It consists of a Director, a Board of Directors, several technical committees, a Chamber of Appeal and a staff of over 550 people and is based in Helsinki (Finland).
Head of the EU Chemicals Agency
Bjorn Hansen (ECHA) prevailed against strong competition. The Danish-born expert's convincing expertise was a key factor in the selection process. For years, he was THE face of European chemicals policy and has played a key role in shaping it in recent years. Coming from the Directorate-General for the Environment, he took on a management position at the agency in Helsinki during ECHA's start-up phase before returning to the Commission as Head of Unit for Chemicals Policy. Austria looks back on a long and intensive collaboration with Bjorn Hansen – many joint initiatives can be traced back to this. With Hansen at its helm, ECHA gained a committed, competent, and creative mind.
Austrian representatives on ECHA's committees
The composition of ECHA's committees and forum was decided by the Management Board. Below you will find a list of Austrian representatives and their CVs.
Member of the Administrative Board
Mister Paul Krajnik
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Climate- and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management
Email: paul.krajnik@bmluk.gv.at
Telephone: +43 (0)1 71162-612346
Committee of Member States
Mister Helmut Stessel
Office of the Styrian Provincial Government
Email: helmut.stessel@stmk.gv.at
Telephone: +43 (0)316 877-2159
Risk Assessment Committee
Miss Annemarie Losert
Federal Environment Agency GmbH
Email: annemarie.losert@umweltbundesamt.at
Telephone: +43 (0)1 31304-5652
Miss Sonja Kapelari
Federal Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Protection
Email: s.kapelari@gmail.com
Telephone: +43 (0)650 934 54 58
Mister Christine Hölzl
Federal Environment Agency GmbH
Email: christine.hoelzl@umweltbundesamt.at
Telephone: +43 (0) 699 194 20 200
Socio-Economic Committee
Miss Simone Fankhauser
Federal Environment Agency GmbH
Email: simone.fankhauser@umweltbundesamt.at
Telephone: +43 (0)1 31304-5661
Mister Georg Knoflach
Federal Ministry of Labor and Economic Affairs
Email: georg.knoflach@bmaw.gv.at
Telephone: +43 (0)1 71100-605120