I take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy New Year and bring you up to speed with what has been happening since my appointment as SG in July 1, 2017. I would at this point also like to thank you all for the vote of confidence in me which required that you change the by-laws  to accommodate me as your new Secretary General.

2017 was as usual full of challenges both in-house and externally. These ranged from staff changes, disentangling MARA from the IMnI and changes in consortium management style. Externally, we were faced with complex dealings with the ECHA and some SIEF. However, I am pleased to report that the identified hurdles were addressed and we made great leaps in terms of the numerous dossier updates, the completion of complex testing emanating from compliance checks and initiated the reimbursement aspect of our contracts.

2018 is anticipated to be even more challenging in terms of workload. Outside the usual tasks around the running of the organisation, 2018 will see 7 dossier updates namely MnSO4, MnCl2, Mn3O4, MnCO3, SiMn slag, FeMn slag and Mn. While some of these substances were updated last year, another update is expected this year due to the anticipated completion of the ECHA requested Repro studies. Some of these updates will trigger a more detailed Chemical Safety Report with exposure scenerios as the substances will be classified for the first time - Mn3O4 and Mn.  Such classifications will also trigger work on SDS's and eSDS's to ensure appropriate communication down the supply chain.

Away from the technical aspect of Mara's obligations, the first half of 2018 will also see an increase in the LoA request alongside the request for general information from the SIEF to enable them meet their May 2018 Registration deadline.  To this end, I have introduced an SG's consulting aspect to my role to help accommodate the high demand for IUCLID work over the first part of this year. The later part of the year will not be quiet, as work on reimbursement/compliance with the data-sharing regulation 2016/9 will reach its final steps - after the total number of registrants per substance and per tonnage band will be much clearer. 

While, I am sure that I am well equipped to face these challenges, I am counting on Mara members (as usual) and SIEF members as a whole to support me through this last REACH Registration deadline year.