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What
is REACH?
Registration,
Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical
substances (REACH) is a new European Community regulation that requires the
registration and safe use of chemicals. The aim of REACH is to improve the protection of human health and the
environment by placing greater responsibility on industry to identify and
manage the risks from chemicals and to provide safety information on the
substances.
Who
Does REACH Impact?
REACH has very complex requirements that are dependent on the type of material being produced in or exported to the European Union (EU) and the role of the company with regard to the substance.
The designated roles are as follows:
Importer - person established within the Community who is responsible for import
Downstream
user -
person who uses a substance, either on its own or in a preparation, in the
course of their industrial or professional activities
The types of materials that
may be subject to REACH are:
Chemical substance - a chemical element and its compounds
Preparation - a mixture or solution composed of two or more substances (e.g., paints, varnishes, inks)
Article
- any object that has been given a specific shape, surface or design which
determines its function to a greater degree than does its chemical
composition (e.g., manufactured goods such as textiles, electronic
chips, furniture, books, toys, kitchen equipment)
the substance is present in those articles in quantities totaling over 1 ton per producer or importer per year; and
the substance is intended to be released under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use
In addition, if the article contains above 0.1% (w/w) of certain Substances of High Concern, customers and the European Chemicals Agency (Agency) may need to be notified on the safe use of the Article.
Manufacturers
and importers must also provide their downstream users with the risk
information necessary to use the substance safely.
What
Are the Requirements of REACH?
Pre-registration
Substances
must be pre-registered between June 1, 2008 and November 30, 2008 in order to
take advantage of the extended registration deadlines. As of January 2009,
items not pre-registered cannot be marketed without a full registration.
Registration
Any substance not
pre-registered by November 30, 2008 must be fully registered prior to being
marketed in the EU. For all
pre-registered substances, the following registration deadlines apply:
|
Dec
1, 2010 |
substances above 1,000
tons per year, or carcinogenic substances and substances that alter
human DNA or damage human fertility above 1 ton per year |
|
June
1, 2013 |
substances between 100 and
1,000 tons per year |
|
June
1, 2018 |
substances between 1 and
100 tons per year |
The Agency will
examine, in more detail, registration dossiers (including safe use
information, all physicochemical, toxicological and ecotoxicological
information, etc.).
Authorization
Certain
very dangerous substances will require authorization before they can be used
and restrictions may be placed on the use of certain substances.
How
HRP Can Help?