REACH

What is REACH and why is it important?

The REACH Regulations are designed to ensure that the manufacturing industry understands the impact of the substances used within their products and how these substances affect the environment and the health of humans that are exposed. REACH compliance places the responsibility on the manufacturer to comply with substances of very high concern limitation, thus allowing the authorities to focus their time ensuring different industries are living up to their obligations and also enforcing the laws for those manufacturers that are not compliant.

The goal of REACH is to:

  • Require Manufacturers and Importers/distributors to:
    • Provide  information on hazards of chemicals within their products
    • Evaluate and mitigate the risks of chemicals used.
    • Register chemicals for all uses within their products.
  • Ensure information regarding risks posed by chemicals is available
    • To end users
    • The regulatory authorities
    • The public itself
  • Promote the development of:
    • Substances better for the environment
    • Substances with less impact to health
  • Create a system for the European Union enforcement agencies to quickly and efficiently enforce the regulations in regards to chemical hazards.

What are the REACH requirements?

  • Over the period of 11 years REACH identified and requires the registration of over 30,000 chemicals which are currently used.
  • To meet the REACH requirements there is a need for a Technical Dossier which is submitted to the EU Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for all chemicals introduced into the European market which are above one ton per year.
  • A Chemical Safety Report (CSR) must be submitted to ECHA for chemicals placed on markets above 10 tonnes per year.
  • For placing on markets and import of chemicals containing Substances of Very High Concerns (SVHC) an authorization is required by ECHA.
  • An extended Safety Data Sheet (eSDS) must be provided and communicated to downstream users of chemicals
  • A supply chain information must be requested by importer of consumer products from non-EU manufacturers in which Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) must be listed. If SVHC is above 0.1%, a notification required.