What is REACH?

REACH refers to European Regulation number 1907/2006 on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical Substances (REACH), which became effective on 1 June 2007 as the latest version of EU policy on this subject. It imposes new rules on European industry for handling chemical substances produced and marketed in the European Union, as well as on their uses and on new developments.

The thinking behind REACH is to guarantee a high level of protection for human health and the environment, while at the same time facilitating the free circulation of substances within the European market and contributing to competition and innovation.

To achieve its protective aims, REACH obliges producers, importers and intermediate users of chemicals to guarantee that they manufacture, import, market or employ only substances that have no negative effect on either human health or the environment.

The scope of REACH extends not only to the chemical substances in and of themselves but also to their use in articles made available for sale.

REACH imposes much greater responsibility on industry than previously to manage the risks that chemical substances could hold for health and the environment. Manufacturers and importers are required to identify and manage the risks associated with the substances they manufacture or market. In the case of substances produced or imported in amounts in excess of one tonne per year per person or company, the manufacturers or importers concerned must publicly report this by means of a signed form presented to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), located in Helsinki.

Information can be found on the Agency’s website at http://echa.europa.eu/reach_en.asp.

REACH will in time considerably improve the amount of information available on chemical substances, the associated risks and on how they should be used, all of which information must be made known not only to intermediate and trade users but also consumers.