PFAS lobbying at ECHA
Dear European Chemicals Agency,
Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in Regulation 1049/2001, I would like to request access to the following documents related to lobbying on PFAS, per and polyfluoroalkyl substances. In particular I would like:
1. A list of all meetings/ discussions since 1 January 2022 between officials and businesses, trade associations, or think tanks where this topic was discussed.
2. Any records, minutes, preparatory briefings, or other notes of these meetings/discussions.
3. All correspondence since 1 January 2022, where this topic was discussed, exchanged between officials and businesses, trade associations, or think tanks.
To the extent possible, my strong preference is to receive documents in electronic format.
I would also be grateful to receive the documents in batches, as soon as they are identified and available to send.
Thank you in advance.
Yours faithfully,
Vicky Cann
CEO
Rue d'Edimbourg 26
1050 Brx
Dear Ms Cann,
Thank you for your below message dated 26 January 2024.
We hereby acknowledge receipt of your application for access to documents under Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 ("ATD Regulation"), which has been registered on 29 January 2024 under reference ATD/015/2024.
Kindly note that the statutory deadline provided in the ATD Regulation of 15 working days will start to run as of Tuesday 30 January 2024 and the initial deadline for ECHA reply is Monday 19 February 2024.
Best regards,
Access to documents team
European Chemicals Agency
Dear Ms. Cann,
Please find attached a letter regarding your request, ATD/015/2024,
application for access to documents under Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 on
public access to documents, requesting your reaction to a fair solution
proposal.
Could you kindly confirm receipt of this message.
Best regards,
Access to documents team
European Chemicals Agency
Dear Ms. Cann,
We refer to your ongoing application for access to documents with
reference ATD/015/2024.
Following third-party consultation under Article 4(4) of Regulation (EC)
No 1049/2001, we received a request for access to the identity of the
organisation applying for access to documents.
Therefore, we would like to ask whether you agree to disclose the identity
of your organisation, i.e. “Corporate Europe Observatory”, as the
applicant of the above-mentioned access to documents request.
We would appreciate receiving your feedback as soon as possible and in any
case by tomorrow 8 March 2024.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Kind regards,
Access to documents team
European Chemicals Agency
This e-mail, including any files, is intended for the use of the
individual to whom it is addressed. If you have received this message in
error, please notify the author as soon as possible and delete the
message.
Dear Ms. Cann,
Thank you for your swift reply agreeing on the disclosure of your company
identity.
Just to confirm that you are also fine with the suggested fair solution on
5 March 2024 to exceptionally extend the deadline by another 30 working
days to allow you to have the fullest possible set of identified documents
to be disclosed. Of course, if we conclude the third-party consultations
earlier without any 10 days letters required you will receive our reply
and requested documents sooner.
Best regards,
Access to documents team
European Chemicals Agency
This e-mail, including any files, is intended for the use of the
individual to whom it is addressed. If you have received this message in
error, please notify the author as soon as possible and delete the
message.
Dear Ms. Cann,
As agreed by phone, kindly confirm by return mail our fair solution that
we have concluded to proceed with your ATD/015/2024 in two batches and
extended deadline by 30 working days regarding the second batch.
First batch is to be sent today on Monday 11 March 2024 with 27 partially
disclosed documents and
Second batch by the latest on Wednesday 24 April 2024.
Best regards,
Access to documents team
European Chemicals Agency
This e-mail, including any files, is intended for the use of the
individual to whom it is addressed. If you have received this message in
error, please notify the author as soon as possible and delete the
message.
From: ECHA ATD <[ECHA request email]>
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2024 10:33 AM
To: [email address]
Cc: ECHA ATD <[ECHA request email]>
Subject: FW: ATD/015/2024 - Fair solution proposal 5/3/2024 - please reply
by 8 March 2024
Importance: High
Dear Ms. Cann,
Since you might have mist ECHA’s message suggesting a fair solution on 5
March 2024 relating to your ATD/015/2024, we are contacting you today also
through your CEO email to see whether you agree with our proposal.
We will also try to reach you today by phone 0044796088096.
Best regards,
Access to documents team
European Chemicals Agency
This e-mail, including any files, is intended for the use of the
individual to whom it is addressed. If you have received this message in
error, please notify the author as soon as possible and delete the
message.
From: ECHA ATD <[1][ECHA request email]>
Sent: Friday, March 8, 2024 8:51 PM
To: Vicky Cann <[2][FOI #14107 email]>
Cc: ECHA ATD <[3][ECHA request email]>
Subject: RE: ATD/015/2024 - Fair solution proposal 5/3/2024 - please reply
by 8 March 2024
Dear Ms. Cann,
Thank you for your swift reply agreeing on the disclosure of your company
identity.
Just to confirm that you are also fine with the suggested fair solution on
5 March 2024 to exceptionally extend the deadline by another 30 working
days to allow you to have the fullest possible set of identified documents
to be disclosed. Of course, if we conclude the third-party consultations
earlier without any 10 days letters required you will receive our reply
and requested documents sooner.
Best regards,
Access to documents team
European Chemicals Agency
This e-mail, including any files, is intended for the use of the
individual to whom it is addressed. If you have received this message in
error, please notify the author as soon as possible and delete the
message.
I agree; thank you very much.
On 11/03/2024 11:33, ECHA ATD wrote:
Dear Ms. Cann,
As agreed by phone, kindly confirm by return mail our fair solution that
we have concluded to proceed with your ATD/015/2024 in two batches and
extended deadline by 30 working days regarding the second batch.
First batch is to be sent today on Monday 11 March 2024 with 27
partially disclosed documents and
Second batch by the latest on Wednesday 24 April 2024.
Best regards,
Access to documents team
European Chemicals Agency
This e-mail, including any files, is intended for the use of the
individual to whom it is addressed. If you have received this message
in error, please notify the author as soon as possible and delete the
message.
From: ECHA ATD [1]<[ECHA request email]>
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2024 10:33 AM
To: [2][email address]
Cc: ECHA ATD [3]<[ECHA request email]>
Subject: FW: ATD/015/2024 - Fair solution proposal 5/3/2024 - please
reply by 8 March 2024
Importance: High
Dear Ms. Cann,
Since you might have mist ECHA’s message suggesting a fair solution on 5
March 2024 relating to your ATD/015/2024, we are contacting you today
also through your CEO email to see whether you agree with our proposal.
We will also try to reach you today by phone 0044796088096.
Best regards,
Access to documents team
European Chemicals Agency
This e-mail, including any files, is intended for the use of the
individual to whom it is addressed. If you have received this message
in error, please notify the author as soon as possible and delete the
message.
From: ECHA ATD <[4][ECHA request email]>
Sent: Friday, March 8, 2024 8:51 PM
To: Vicky Cann <[5][FOI #14107 email]>
Cc: ECHA ATD <[6][ECHA request email]>
Subject: RE: ATD/015/2024 - Fair solution proposal 5/3/2024 - please
reply by 8 March 2024
Dear Ms. Cann,
Thank you for your swift reply agreeing on the disclosure of your
company identity.
Just to confirm that you are also fine with the suggested fair solution
on 5 March 2024 to exceptionally extend the deadline by another 30
working days to allow you to have the fullest possible set of identified
documents to be disclosed. Of course, if we conclude the third-party
consultations earlier without any 10 days letters required you will
receive our reply and requested documents sooner.
Best regards,
Access to documents team
European Chemicals Agency
This e-mail, including any files, is intended for the use of the
individual to whom it is addressed. If you have received this message
in error, please notify the author as soon as possible and delete the
message.
Dear Ms. Cann,
Thank you very much for agreeing to our fair solution proposal.
As agreed, with reference to your request for access to documents
ATD/015/2024, please find attached ECHA’s final reply – First batch with
its enclosures. Due to the number and size of the files, we are sending
the attachments in a Zip file.
The second batch will be sent by 24 April 2024 due to ongoing third party
consultations.
Kindly confirm receipt of this message and its Zip file of attachments by
return email.
Best regards,
Access to documents team
European Chemicals Agency
This e-mail, including any files, is intended for the use of the
individual to whom it is addressed. If you have received this message in
error, please notify the author as soon as possible and delete the
message.
From: Vicky Cann <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2024 5:36 PM
To: ECHA ATD <[ECHA request email]>; Vicky Cann
<[FOI #14107 email]>
Cc: ECHA Restriction <[email address]>
Subject: Re: ATD/015/2024 - Agreed Fair solution
I agree; thank you very much.
On 11/03/2024 11:33, ECHA ATD wrote:
Dear Ms. Cann,
As agreed by phone, kindly confirm by return mail our fair solution that
we have concluded to proceed with your ATD/015/2024 in two batches and
extended deadline by 30 working days regarding the second batch.
First batch is to be sent today on Monday 11 March 2024 with 27
partially disclosed documents and
Second batch by the latest on Wednesday 24 April 2024.
Best regards,
Access to documents team
European Chemicals Agency
This e-mail, including any files, is intended for the use of the
individual to whom it is addressed. If you have received this message
in error, please notify the author as soon as possible and delete the
message.
From: ECHA ATD [1]<[ECHA request email]>
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2024 10:33 AM
To: [2][email address]
Cc: ECHA ATD [3]<[ECHA request email]>
Subject: FW: ATD/015/2024 - Fair solution proposal 5/3/2024 - please
reply by 8 March 2024
Importance: High
Dear Ms. Cann,
Since you might have mist ECHA’s message suggesting a fair solution on 5
March 2024 relating to your ATD/015/2024, we are contacting you today
also through your CEO email to see whether you agree with our proposal.
We will also try to reach you today by phone 0044796088096.
Best regards,
Access to documents team
European Chemicals Agency
This e-mail, including any files, is intended for the use of the
individual to whom it is addressed. If you have received this message
in error, please notify the author as soon as possible and delete the
message.
From: ECHA ATD <[4][ECHA request email]>
Sent: Friday, March 8, 2024 8:51 PM
To: Vicky Cann <[5][FOI #14107 email]>
Cc: ECHA ATD <[6][ECHA request email]>
Subject: RE: ATD/015/2024 - Fair solution proposal 5/3/2024 - please
reply by 8 March 2024
Dear Ms. Cann,
Thank you for your swift reply agreeing on the disclosure of your
company identity.
Just to confirm that you are also fine with the suggested fair solution
on 5 March 2024 to exceptionally extend the deadline by another 30
working days to allow you to have the fullest possible set of identified
documents to be disclosed. Of course, if we conclude the third-party
consultations earlier without any 10 days letters required you will
receive our reply and requested documents sooner.
Best regards,
Access to documents team
European Chemicals Agency
This e-mail, including any files, is intended for the use of the
individual to whom it is addressed. If you have received this message
in error, please notify the author as soon as possible and delete the
message.
Dear Ms. Cann,
Wishing you a enjoyable International Women’s Day 🌷
This is a kind reminder seeking your response to both messages ECHA sent
this week, namely the fair solution proposal and request for your company
identity.
Best regards,
Access to documents team
European Chemicals Agency
From: ECHA ATD <[ECHA request email]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 5, 2024 3:00 PM
To: 'Vicky Cann' <[FOI #14107 email]>
Cc: ECHA ATD <[ECHA request email]>; ECHA Restriction
<[email address]>
Subject: Your application for access to documents - ATD/015/2024 - Fair
solution proposal
Dear Ms. Cann,
Please find attached a letter regarding your request, ATD/015/2024,
application for access to documents under Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 on
public access to documents, requesting your reaction to a fair solution
proposal.
Could you kindly confirm receipt of this message.
Best regards,
Access to documents team
European Chemicals Agency
Dear ECHA ATD,
Thanks for your messages. The fair solution and the request to release the organisation identity are both fine, as per my separate emails.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Vicky Cann
Dear Ms Cann,
Please find attached the final reply -second batch - on your request for
access to documents under Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 ("ATD Regulation"),
which has been registered on 29 January 2024 under reference ATD/015/2024
and part 1/2 of the documents.
To open the archive, please save the zip files on your desktop and open
the file .001.
Regards,
Mr Daniele Pennese
Administrative Assistant
Risk Management Unit
+358 9 6861 8806
[1][email address]
echa.europa.eu
P.O. Box 400, FI-00121 Helsinki,
Finland
EMAS Registered
[2][IMG] [3][IMG] [4][IMG] [5][IMG]
ISO 9001:2015 certified
ISO 14001:2015 certified
The above represents the opinion of the author and is not an official
position of the European Chemicals Agency. This email, including any
files attached to it, is intended for the use of the individual to whom it
is addressed. If you have received this message in error, please notify
the author as soon as possible and delete the message.
When you reply/forward this message to ECHA, please don’t remove the #Case
ID# if it appears in the subject or body of the email. Also, when
replying/forwarding the message, please keep the email address Dynamic
Case ([6][email address]) as a recipient or copied in the message.
We need this information for registration reasons. Thank you for your
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References
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2. https://twitter.com/EU_ECHA
3. https://www.facebook.com/EUECHA/
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5. https://www.linkedin.com/company/europea...
6. mailto:[email address]
Dear Ms Cann,
Please see part 2/2 of the documents.
To open the archive, please save the zip files on your desktop and open
the file .001.
Regards,
Mr Daniele Pennese
Administrative Assistant
Risk Management Unit
+358 9 6861 8806
[1][email address]
echa.europa.eu
P.O. Box 400, FI-00121 Helsinki,
Finland
EMAS Registered
[2][IMG] [3][IMG] [4][IMG] [5][IMG]
ISO 9001:2015 certified
ISO 14001:2015 certified
The above represents the opinion of the author and is not an official
position of the European Chemicals Agency. This email, including any
files attached to it, is intended for the use of the individual to whom it
is addressed. If you have received this message in error, please notify
the author as soon as possible and delete the message.
When you reply/forward this message to ECHA, please don’t remove the #Case
ID# if it appears in the subject or body of the email. Also, when
replying/forwarding the message, please keep the email address Dynamic
Case ([6][email address]) as a recipient or copied in the message.
We need this information for registration reasons. Thank you for your
attention to this.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://twitter.com/EU_ECHA
3. https://www.facebook.com/EUECHA/
4. https://www.youtube.com/user/EUchemicals
5. https://www.linkedin.com/company/europea...
6. mailto:[email address]
Dear ECHA Restriction PFAS,
Thank you. I was able to open the zip fle in March; but I have not been able to open the zips sent on 23 April. Please could you try again?
Thank you in advance.
Yours sincerely,
Vicky Cann
I'm out of office until 8 May.
In urgent matters please contact [email address] / [email address]
Kind Regards,
Essi Bin
Dear Ms Cann,
This is the first part of the file. Another email will follow with the second part.
These files have been tested and should work.
Regards,
Daniele Pennese
Dear ECHA Restriction PFAS,
Thank you for resending. The zip files appear to arrive in different formats and this morning I could not open either!
I wonder if you might try wetransfer instead?
Thank you for your cooperation.
Yours sincerely,
Vicky Cann
Dear Ms Cann,
The files are part of an archive and would need to be downloaded and stored in the same folder. You cannot open the files directly from the email, or by themselves.
Once you have both files, then please open the one with extension ".001". If you do not have installed a software to open a zip archive file, then you could try 7zip (available from https://www.7-zip.org/download.html).
You cannot open the single files. The archive has been split because of technical limitations in sending emails over 10MB from our system. Even if you have a software installed that can handle zip files, you might need to right-click the .001 file and select "open with", then select the right software.
The archive has been tested twice and from our side it works. We are unaware if the Asktheeu servers manipulates the files during transfer. If this is the case and the files still do not work after following the instructions above, please let us know so that we can find an alternative way to send you the files.
Regard,
DP
Dear ECHA Restriction PFAS,
Thanks. I am generally able to open zip files.
But with the exception of the first file sent on 2 May (which was ATD 15 2024.zip.001.zip) the other files do not end .zip so I am unable to access them.
Please could you have another look?
Thank you in advance.
Yours sincerely,
Vicky Cann
Dear Ms Cann,
After you download both parts of the archive, please remove the ".zip" at
the end of the filenames.
The files should look like this:
ATD_15_2024.zip.001
ATD_15_2024.zip.002
When you double click (or right click > open) the .001 file, the list of
documents should appear (see image attached).
If this will not work, I propose we send the files to your personal email
address directly. The files have been tested and they work, so something
might be happening during transit.
Regards,
DP
Dear ECHA Restriction PFAS,
Thank you. But the files are still not available to me. Even if the zip software can see the files, it says that there are errors with 18 of them and that they cannot be moved, copied, or opened.
As requested before, please could you find a new way of sending the files.
Yours sincerely,
Vicky Cann
Dear Ms Cann,
See first set of documents. The second one will be sent in another email.
The archive file works for us, so something might be happening in
transition.
Please let us know if these files reach you.
Regards and apologies for the inconvenience.
Daniele Pennese
Dear ECHA Restriction PFAS,
Thank you for the documents; I think I can access them all now.
Thank you for your patience and help.
Kind regards
Vicky Cann
Dear ECHA Restriction,
Thank you for the documents for 061/2024.
What is the approach of ECHA to requests for stakeholder meetings? I can see that some are accepted and some are rejected. How does ECHA decide which to accept and which to turn down?
Yours sincerely,
Vicky Cann
Thank you for your enquiry to ECHA.
We have recorded it under the following incident number: 990576.
ECHA is committed to reply to its enquiries as soon as possible, and at
the latest within the deadlines specified in ECHA Code of Good
Administrative Behaviour available at
https://echa.europa.eu/about-us/the-way-....
If you have additional information related to your request, please reply
to this message.
European Chemicals Agency
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Your enquiry:
Dear ECHA Restriction,
Thank you for the documents for 061/2024.
What is the approach of ECHA to requests for stakeholder meetings? I can
see that some are accepted and some are rejected. How does ECHA decide
which to accept and which to turn down?
Yours sincerely,
Vicky Cann
Dear European Chemicals Agency,
Is there a response to incident number: 990576? My query was as set out below.
Thanks,
Vicky Cann
-------------------
Dear ECHA Restriction,
Thank you for the documents for 061/2024.
What is the approach of ECHA to requests for stakeholder meetings? I can
see that some are accepted and some are rejected. How does ECHA decide
which to accept and which to turn down?
Yours sincerely,
Vicky Cann
Dear Vicky Cann,
Thank you for your question to the European Chemicals Agency, regarding
stakeholder meetings.
First of all, apologies for the significantly delayed response to your
question.
From your question, it is not 100% clear, whether you are referring to
stakeholder meetings, where one of our stakeholders would like to have a
meeting at ECHA’s offices in Helsinki, or if you are talking about ECHA
participating in events, organised by stakeholders (conferences,
workshops, etc.). Therefore, I will provide you with a brief description
for both.
Request to meet with ECHA in Helsinki: In general, ECHA will accept visit
requests from European/national associations (with preference given to
accredited stakeholders), while reject visit requests from individual
companies. Meetings with individual companies will be considered, in case
the topic is an ongoing company specific file (e.g., registration, etc.).
Additionally, ECHA often accept visit requests from third country
authorities, where preference is given to those, with whom the Agency has
a pre-existing cooperation.
ECHA colleagues participating in external events: in case an ECHA
colleague is requested to speak/present/etc. on an external event, the
Agency will assess the request against its annual priorities. In general,
for profit or single company organised events will be deprioritised over
events organised by institutional partners (e.g., European Commission,
Member State Authorities), associations operating on a European level
(NGOs or industry wide sector associations) or academia. In addition,
availability of staff and budget will be considered.
We hope that this answers your question. Should you require any further
clarification, do not hesitate to get back to us by replying to this
e-mail. For any other question, we kindly ask you to use our dedicated
contact form, available at [1]https://echa.europa.eu/contact.
Best regards,
István
[2]--
István Mák (Mr)
Internal and Stakeholder Communications
A1 – Communications Unit
+ 358 50 416 7991
[3][email address]
Microsoft Teams: [4]call me
[5]https://echa.europa.eu
P.O. Box 400, FI-00121 Helsinki,
Finland
Dear European Chemicals Agency,
Thanks for the reply.
Do you mean that all meetings with individual companies are rejected unless they concern a company-specific file? I note a lot of meetings with individual companies on the lists here: https://echa.europa.eu/directors-meeting...
Without a topic being provided for each meeting, it is hard to establish which file formed the meeting agenda.
Yours faithfully,
Vicky Cann
Thank you for your enquiry to ECHA.
We have recorded it under the following incident number: 1001702.
ECHA is committed to reply to its enquiries as soon as possible, and at
the latest within the deadlines specified in ECHA Code of Good
Administrative Behaviour available at
https://echa.europa.eu/about-us/the-way-....
If you have additional information related to your request, please reply
to this message.
European Chemicals Agency
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Your enquiry:
Dear European Chemicals Agency,
Thanks for the reply.
Do you mean that all meetings with individual companies are rejected
unless they concern a company-specific file? I note a lot of meetings with
individual companies on the lists here:
[1]https://echa.europa.eu/directors-meeting...
Without a topic being provided for each meeting, it is hard to establish
which file formed the meeting agenda.
Yours faithfully,
Vicky Cann
Dear Vicky
Thank you for your interest in this and for highlighting the need for
transparency.
As mentioned by my colleague, in general, ECHA prioritises meetings with
our partners (EU institutions and bodies, member states, international
organisations and EU-level associations).
Industry is also one of our key stakeholder groups as duty holder under
the EU chemicals laws. One of our priorities is to “Provide tools, advice,
and support to industry” which is why we engage with industry
stakeholders, particularly within the context of regulatory processes.
That said, we do not prioritise meeting individual companies.
We acknowledge the need for further transparency regarding the topics and
focus areas of these meetings. We are actively exploring ways to enhance
clarity and openness in this regard.
Thank you again for your valuable feedback. If you have any further
questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Wishing you a peaceful holiday season,
Veera Saari
Stakeholder team
Communications Unit
[email address]
echa.europa.eu
P.O. Box 400, FI-00121 Helsinki, Finland
The above represents the opinion of the author and is not an official
position of the European Chemicals Agency.
This email, including any files attached to it, is intended for the use of
the individual to whom it is addressed.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the author as
soon as possible and delete the message.
Dear European Chemicals Agency,
Thank you for the latest reply.
Yours faithfully,
Vicky Cann