OVERVIEW

REACH is a new EU chemical regulation that impacts most industrial products. The legislation seeks to provide a high level of protection for human health and the environment by creating a single market for chemical products.

As one of the most complex pieces of legislation in European history, REACH establishes a system for the egistration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of chemicals. While the legislation entered into force on the 1st of June 2007, most requirements for industry began on the 1st of June 2008.

Registration applies to substances manufactured or imported into the EU in quantities above one tonne per year, whether on their own, in mixtures or intended to be released from finished products. REACH requires each company to submit a registration dossier to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in Helsinki. As a first step, companies must ensure that all relevant substances are pre-registered by the 1st of December 2008. Registration is then organised according to three phases spanning 10 years.

Substances can be evaluated by Member States and ECHA. Where there is concern for human health and the environment, the use of a substance can be restricted or subjected to an authorisation procedure.

In addition, REACH requires that the presence in products of any substance of very high concern be communicated through the supply chain. This obligation began on the 28th of October 2008 for any such substance present in a product at or above 0.1% weight by weight, regardless of tonnage.

Certain substances such as radioactive substances are exempted from the REACH Regulation (e.g. radioactive substances), also particular uses of substance may also be exempt from parts of the legislation (e.g. food additives) or have reduced requirements (e.g. medical devices) when regulated by other legislation.

In the United Kingdom, the Health and Safety Executive has the responsibility for REACH implementation along with other government agencies, such as the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) which has the policy lead on REACH and is finalising enforcement arrangements with the Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Devolved Administrations for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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1. What is REACH?
2. What are the objectives of REACH?
3. How will REACH work?
4. What is the scope of REACH?
5. What substances are exempted under REACH?
6. What is the effect of not pre-registering or registering?
7. Classification and labelling
8. Information in the supply chain & the Candidate List
9. Requirements for Polymers
10. Pre-registration
11. Registration
12. Evaluation
13. Authorisation
14. Restriction