REACH Chemicals

What is REACH Regulation / REACH Directive?

 

REACH is the Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals. It came into force on 1 June 2007. [Full text, pdf, 1.7MB]

 

 

What are the key provisions of REACH Directive?

  • Registration: Substances manufactured/imported over 1ton per year need to be registered with the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) by manufacturers, importers or only representatives;
  • Evaluation: Registration dossiers submitted will be examined by ECHA in terms of completeness and data requirements. ECHA will also assess a substance of concern and its environment/public health impact;
  • Authorization: Listed Substances of Very High Concern(SVHC) in Annex XIV will not be allowed to be used, placed on the market or imported into the EU after a date to be set unless the company is granted an authorization;
  • Restriction: Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation contains the list of all restricted substances, specifying which uses are restricted or even banned;
  • Communication in the supply chain: Information about the safe use of chemicals (risk management measures) need to be communicated up and down the supply chain in the format of Safety Data Sheets or Chemical Safety Report.

 

What is the scope of REACH Directive?

REACH applies to substances manufactured or imported into the EU in quantities of 1 tonne per year or more. It covers substances on their own, in a preparation or in an article manufactured, imported, placed on the market or used ;

  • Preparation: A mixture or solution composed of two or more substances.e.g. ink, detergents. Substances in preparations shall be registered separately.
  • Article: An object which during production is given a special shape, surface or design, which determines its function to a greater degree that does its chemical composition. e.g. car, clothes, toys. Only substances in articles with intended release need to be registered.

 

What are the exemptions of REACH Directive?

  • Radioactive substances
  • Substances under customs supervision
  • The transport of substances
  • Non-isolated intermediates
  • Waste, re-imported goods
  • Annex IV: e.g.: low hazardous substances such as water, starch, vitamin A, glucoseˇ­
  • Annex V: e.g.: by-products, hydrates, naturally existing substances(oxygen, mineral ores)ˇ­

 

How do I comply with REACH regulation?

Click here to know your role and your obligations.

 

How can we assist you with REACH regulation?

 

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