SIEF progress is mixed

Progress amongst SIEF’s has been mixed. This has been partly due to companies being reticent to take up the roles of SIEF Formation Facilitator (SFF) and the more onerous role of Lead Registrant. At time of writing ECHA lists fewer than 2000 SIEFs having formed (see: http://echa.europa.eu/home_en.asp).

Consortium formation has, as anticipated, proved to be a difficult area with a significant legal input being needed. Even so time delays in reaching consensus on issues such as data compensation, data valuation, letters of access, late joiners etc have resulted in significant delays in getting work started.  Initiatives from industry bodies such as CEFIC have proved invaluable in getting standardized agreements to allow companies to move forward (see: http://cefic.org/templates/shwPublications.asp?HID=750 ).