8. Conclusion

As we have seen above, the most important analytical challenges in the application of the REACH regulation are linked to questions of impact on health and the environment, in support of toxicology and ecotoxicology studies using conventional methods, for which the analytical techniques will have to be revisited according to the environments in which the xenobiotics will have to be researched. However, REACH is insisting on a reduction in animal testing, and toxicology needs to equip itself with new tools. Predictive toxicology, the development of biomarkers and "in silico" methods will be developed and validated through a systemic approach in which chemistry and physical chemistry will be associated with research programs.

If we look at the various players involved in REACH: academia, large-scale industry, SMEs and civil society, we can see that most SMEs in the...