(8)Correspondingly, this Regulation aims to address the eventual divergence between scientific opinions of the European Food Safety Authority and those of other Union agencies. Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and Council already contains provisions establishing a procedure to solve divergent scientific opinions. Those resolution procedures should be reinforced, in that the European Food Safety Authority and the other dissenting agency should be bound to make their best effort to resolve the divergence on general scientific issues. Differences in assessment methodologies resulting in divergent opinions, particularly with regard to the protection of vulnerable groups, should be duly justified. In such instances, priority should be given to the most protective opinion to safeguard vulnerable groups. Only when they are not able to resolve the divergence, should they refer to risk managers.

(9)In the more specific case of scientific divergence pertaining to the hazard identification of chemical substances, a new procedure enabling the resolution of the divergence should be established. This procedure should enable the Commission to request the European Chemicals Agency, as the Union agency most equipped with expertise and capacity in hazard assessment, as well as long-standing experience with the harmonised classification and labelling process, to develop a proposal for harmonised classification and labelling, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and Council, moving closer to the ‘one substance, one assessment’ vision as regards uniformity of hazard assessments of chemicals across the Union, enhancing the protection of health and the environment. This possibility should be reflected in the relevant provision providing for the resolution of diverging scientific opinions laid down in Regulation (EC) No 178/2002.

Where the Authority identifies a potential source of divergence, it shall contact the body concerned in order to ensure that all relevant scientific or technical information is shared and in order to identify the potentially contentious scientific or technical issues. Differences in assessment methodologies resulting in divergent opinions shall be duly justified, especially regarding the protection of vulnerable groups.

The Authority and the body concerned shall cooperate to resolve the divergence, with the aim of ensuring the highest level of protection of health and the environment. Priority shall be given to the opinion that affords the highest level of protection in order to safeguard the most vulnerable groups. If the Authority and the body concerned are not able to resolve the divergence, they shall draw up a joint report. The report shall clearly outline the contentious scientific issues, identify the relevant uncertainties in the data and the possible causes for the diverging opinions, including on methodological differences, and be made publicly available.

(b)substances which are classified as endocrine disruptors for human health, of Category 1, in accordance with Part 3 of Annex VI to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council12 and substances having endocrine-disrupting properties for which there is scientific evidence of probable serious effects to human health and which are identified in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 59 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council or substances having endocrine disrupting properties relevant to human health identified in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 528/2012.

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12 Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (OJ L 353, 31.12.2008, p. 1).

(a)information on human health and environmental impacts of waste consisting of, containing or contaminated with POPs, including impacts on waste management;

The Agency shall, as soon as it receives the request referred to in Article 8(1), point (i), publish on its website a notice that a report on a possible amendment of Annex IV or V will be prepared inviting all interested parties, including waste operators and users of recycled materials, to submit comments within 8 weeks. The Agency shall publish those comments on its website.

At the latest 9 months following the submission of the report referred to in Article 8(1), point (i), the Committee for Socio-economic Analysis of the Agency, set up pursuant to Article 76(1), point (d), of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 shall adopt an opinion on the report and on the concentration limit values proposed therein. For the purpose of adopting an opinion on the report, Article 87 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 shall apply mutatis mutandis.

2.The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 18, to amend Annexes IV and V to adapt them to the changes to the list of substances set out in Annexes I, II or III to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021, or the Annexes to the Convention or the Protocol or to adapt them to scientific and technical progress.

6.A delegated act adopted pursuant to Articles 4(3), 10(2) and 15 shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or by the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period may be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council’.