REACH ("Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals”) is a completely revised legislation for chemicals. It became effective in the European Union on June 1, 2007. One of the most complex and far-reaching regulations ever passed in the EU, REACH changes fundamentally the chemical control in Europe.
Its aim is to improve the protection of human health and the environment: through the better and earlier identification of the intrinsic properties of chemical substances. At the same time, it shall improve innovative capability and competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry.
The REACH regulation gives also greater responsibility to industry to manage the risks from chemicals and to provide safety information on the substances. As manufacturers and importers are asked to collect information on the properties of their chemical substances, their safe handling is more guaranteed. All the information will be registered in a central database run by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in Helsinki.
The Agency acts as the central point in the REACH system. It manages the databases necessary to operate the system, co-ordinate the in-depth evaluation of suspicious chemicals and run a public database. Consumers and professionals can find there all information.
Potential registrants (i.e. manufacturers and importers of chemical substances) must 'pre-register' these substances by December 1, 2008. They benefit from the postponed 'phase in' deadlines. Although 'pre-registering' is not mandatory, it is free and an important step in allowing potential registrants much more time before they have to fully register.
The REACH principle "no data, no market” concerns non-European manufacturers as well. And it is needed as soon as the volume of the chemicals exceeds one metric ton (t) per year.
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